Bhubaneswar: The Odisha unit of the Congress has decided to boycott the upcoming orientation programme for newly elected MLAs, which will be attended by Vice President of India C.P. Radhakrishnan on November 16.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das has also appealed to the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and other opposition legislators to stay away from the event in solidarity.
Addressing the media, Das said the President and Vice President are constitutional authorities who deserve full respect. However, he questioned the relevance of the Vice President conducting a training programme for legislators when the state is grappling with multiple pressing problems.
“The condition of the state is deteriorating. If legislators are to be constitutionally empowered, they must participate in such programmes. But this government does not respect MLAs,” Das said. He maintained that opposition legislators from the Congress and BJD are already well-trained and do not require such an orientation.
“Training is required for BJP MLAs, not opposition legislators. They are against the Constitution and have failed to protect it. This training programme is meant to teach them how to become subservient,” the PCC president alleged.
Reacting to the Congress decision, Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said those who choose not to attend would simply miss an opportunity to learn.
“Whoever does not want to attend may stay away. But I need learning. They seem to have already received training on how to create disturbances in the Assembly, prevent others from speaking and avoid debates and discussions. They do not need training, knowledge or reading. May God bless them,” Pujari remarked.
The minister also criticised the previous BJD government’s 25-year tenure, particularly its handling of major cyclones such as Phailin, Hudhud and Fani. “People across the state know the failures of the previous 25 years of governance. Who answered for the deaths during Phailin, Hudhud and Fani? They used to claim zero casualties for 25 years. Whoever comes to teach me is my guru,” he said.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan is scheduled to visit Odisha on a two-day tour and will attend the orientation programme at the Odisha Legislative Assembly on November 16. The one-day programme will have three sessions. The inaugural session will be attended by the Vice President, the Governor, the Chief Minister and the Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.
The orientation will focus on the functioning of various legislative committees and their responsibilities. The Odisha Assembly has 35 committees, including four special committees dealing with financial matters. The Vice President’s participation is significant as it will mark only the second occasion in the history of the Odisha Legislative Assembly that a Vice President will attend a programme at the state legislature.
