Naveen Patnaik, the leader of the opposition (LoP) in Odisha Assembly has refused to take hiked salary. He donated his salary for the welfare of the people of the State.
In the recenly concluded State Assembly a resolution was passed unanimously enhancing the salary and perks of MLAs by three times making the Odisha legislators the highest paid law makers in the country.
In a letter to the Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Saturday, Patnaik, the five time chief minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik has stated, ” I would like to forgo the salary and allowances hiked for Leader of Opposition which the Odisha Legislative Assembly has recently passed. I would like to request you to utilize the same for the welfare of poor people of our State. “
Stating that I have been blessed by the love, affection and support of the people of Odisha for the past more than 25 years. I am highly indebted to the people of Odisha and their love towards me and my late father Biju Patnaik, Naveen has reminded, ” You may kindly be aware that in the year 2015 our family decided to donate its ancestral property Anand Bhawan in Cuttack to be put for use by the people of Odisha”. In the same spirit, he has donated his salary and perks entitled as LoP to the State exchequer to be used for welfare of the people of Odisha, he has written in the letter.
