Jual Oram to head parliamentary panel on defence

BHUBANESWAR: Former Union minister

Jual Oram

was appointed chairman of the parliamentary committee on

defence

constituted on Friday.


“It’s a parliamentary duty. As a Parliamentarian, I will discharge my responsibility to the best of my ability and with full commitment,”

Jual

told TOI on Saturday. Jual, who was tribal affairs minister in the first term of the Narendra Modi government, was left out from the council of ministers in the current term. Many perceived him to have been sidelined. The MP from Sundargarh, however, said, “As a disciplined party worker and as a people’s representative, there is huge scope to serve the people.”

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is among the members of the Jual-led panel. Another Odisha BJP MP, Nitesh Gangadeb, is also a member of the 31-member panel, a bulletin issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat said. Senior BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab (Cuttack) was appointed chairperson of the Committee on Labour. Raghunath Mohapatra, Rajya Sabha member from Odisha, is among members of the labour panel. Three MPs from Odisha—BJD’s Mahesh Sahoo (LS member from Dhenkanal) and N Bhaskar Rao besides BJP’s Ashwini Vaishnaw (both RS) —were named members of the parliamentary committee on science and technology, environment and forest.

BJD Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharya and Sonal Mansingh (nominated RS member) were made members of the committee on transport, tourism and culture. Puri Lok Sabha member Pinaki Mishra (BJD) found a place in the committee on finance. BJD MP Pramila Bisoyi (Aska) and Congress’ Saptagiri Ulaka (Koraput) were made members of the committee on food, consumer affairs and public distribution. While actor-turned Kendrapada MP Anubhav Mohanty (BJD) was made a member of committee on railways, BJD’s Rajya Sabha member Narendra Swain was named member of committee on water resources.

Congress Rajya Sabha member Ranjib Biswal was included as member of the parliamentary committee on chemicals and fertilizers. BJD’s RS member Prashanta Nanda was made member of committee on coal and steel. Sarojini Hembram, also a BJD RS member, was taken in as a member of committee on social justice and empowerment.

Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.