Opposition trains guns on Odisha govt over 5T Secy’s district visits, grievance hearings

A day after Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took stock of the 5T Secretary's visit to 20 districts and grievance hearings, the Opposition parties on Wednesday trained guns on the state government. Congress MLA Santosh Singh Saluja alleged that the 5T Secretary is not going for grievance hearings rather he is going to organise political meetings.

Saluja questioned when grievance hearings are being conducted at block and district level by the administration, what extra the 5T Secretary is doing?

“In the name of grievance hearing, attempts are being made to bag votes and influence people. It is a political stunt. If grievances are being redressed promptly by 5T Secretary’s visit, what was the government doing in the name of grievance redressal in the past 4 years,” questioned Saluja.

Senior BJP leader Prithviraj Harichandan said, “It seems that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has mentally not prepared himself in the last 23 years to hear the public grievances."

"Prior to Patnaik, several Odisha Chief Ministers were hearing the grievances of people. Even late CM Biju Patnaik, the father of Naveen Patnaik, had set up a grievance centre in his office and he was personally hearing the issues," he said.

“Same was the case during the tenure of CMs including Biju Patnaik, Nandini Devi, Janaki Ballabh Patnaik, and others. But Naveen Patnaik is the only CM who could not mentally prepare himself to hear the grievances,” said Harichandan.

Harichandan alleged that unfortunately the CM’s grievance centre is defunct since 2008 and only a few persons are there for attendance.

“In the last 5 years, the CMO has been claiming that state government is accountable for grievances but no step is being taken to redress the issues of the common man,” Harichandan said.

Responding to the allegations of the Opposition, Planning & Convergence Department Minister Rajendra Dholakia said, “It is quite natural that Opposition is now worried as they do not have any answer how to reach out to the people. I appeal to the opposition to compete in work instead of opposing development.”