Odisha’s ruling BJD MPs on Tuesday staged a dharna near the Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises in New Delhi protesting against the Union Government’s inadequate assistance to cyclone Phailin and flood-hit Odisha.
“The Prime Minister first announced an interin assistance of Rs 1,000 crore to Odisha for relief and restoration work but released a mere Rs 250 crore after 20 days of the announcement. This shows the step-motherly attitude of the Centre towards Odisha,” said MP Bhartruhari Mahtab. The MPs warned that the UPA Government’s continued apathy towards the State would not be tolerated any more.
“For such step-motherly behaviour, the people of four States, where elections were held recently gave a strong message to the Congress by not voting for it and the people of Odisha will too give a fitting reply to the UPA at appropriate time,” said another BJD MP.