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Saturday, Aug 04, 2007
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Impose Central rule: J.B. Patnaik

Special Correspondent

‘BJD has no moral right to continue in office’

State fails to protect health of citizens
Naveen blamed for fake drugs racket

BHUBANESWAR: Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly J.B. Patnaik on Friday demanded that the Centre dismiss the Naveen Patnaik Government for what he called its “misrule” and impose President’s rule in the State.

Squarely blaming the Biju Janata Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance Government for its “failure on almost every front,” particularly with regard to unearthing of large-scale female foeticide and spurious medicine racket, Mr. Patnaik said it had no moral right to continue in office.

“After failing to protect the life and property of the people and check corruption, the government has also failed to protect the health of the citizens. The unearthing of female foeticide and fake drugs trade has brought its failure to the fore,” the Congress leader said.

He severely criticised Mr. Naveen Patnaik for failing to check the spurious medicine racket despite being apprised of the problem by Health Minister Duryodhan Majhi in October last year.

‘Claim exposed’

“The detection of a medicine manufacturing unit in Bolangir district and sale of fake drugs across the State has further exposed the Chief Minister’s claim that he has initiated measures to curb the fake medicine menace after receiving Mr. Majhi’s letter on the issue,” Mr. Patnaik charged.

Blaming the government for its carelessness, the Opposition leader said the State Drug Advisory Committee had held its meeting only once during the past seven years. The committee, which was supposed to meet at an interval of three to four months, was lying defunct, he said.

Referring to the remarks of senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jual Oram against the Chief Minister at Bonai on Wednesday, the Opposition leader said the Chief Minister should step down without delay, particularly when he had started facing criticism from the party that was a partner in the government.

Unnecessary: Naveen

Reacting to the Opposition leader’s demand, the Chief Minister said that the it was “unnecessary.”

“The government has been striving to work for the people and it will continue to do so,” he said.

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