The BJP though welcomed the recent inauguration of renovation works of 145 years’ old Ramalingam tank and a newly-developed amusement park by CM Naveen Patnaik on January 4, but the party flayed the Government for making the inaugural function a BJD fest.
Former district president of the BJP and senior leader Kanhu Charan Pati said when the State CM was inaugurating the Ramalingam Park through video conferencing from Bhubaneswar, the ceremonial podium was crowded by local MLAs and MPs, officials and a large number of workers of the ruling BJD. Surprisingly, none of the local leader of other political parties or intellectuals, environmentalists, senior citizens and educationists were invited to the inaugural ceremony.
Even scribes were invited on selective basis. The inaugural function was purely a function of the ruling BJD rather than a public function, Pati charged.
This is an indication of BJD Government's narrow mindset, Pati alleged.
According to the age old traditions and practices of Hindu religion, Deepavali is being celebrated with fire-crackers to mark the event, but fire-crackers worth lakhs of rupees were used in the inaugural function of the Ramalingam Park particularly during Covid-19 pandemic which was uncalled for, he lamented.
What was the necessity of use of such huge fire-crackers and who gave the permission for use of such huge fire-crackers, Pati questioned.
Pati further said that as per the media reports, the district administration/BeMC have reportedly fixed Rs 20 as entry fee and parking fee in the park. He demanded withdrawal of the entry fee as well as parking fee immediately.