As anticipated, the ruling BJD on Saturday virtually declared war against the BJP ahead of the latter’s national executive meeting by calling a State-wide agitation on the Centre’s reduced kerosene quota from April 10.
The agitation call given by the BJD assumed significance as the BJP will hold its national executive meeting in Bhubaneswar on April 15 and 16 which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah and a host of senior party leaders along with BJP-ruled States’ Chief Ministers.
Blasting the Modi Government for the poor supply of kerosene, BJD leader and Civil Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma told reporters here that the State has continuously been witnessing reduction in supply of kerosene.
“last yea, the Centre had provided a mere 97,428 kilolitre of kerosene, which is 25 per cent less than the State’s quota. Kerosene is provided to 86,16,275 families having 3,23,33,148 persons covered under the NFSA. However, the Centre is not bothered about the problem being faced by the poor people in the State,” said Dasburma. Claiming that the State has been demanding supply of 40,000 kilolitre of kerosene per month, Dasburma said, “Despite our repeated appeals to the Centre, nothing has happened as yet.”
He further said that though the State Government has been pleading for supply of kerosene to meet the demand in non-public distribution scheme (PDS) in municipality, block and district levels, the Centre has been bypassing the demand.
“Hence, under such circumstances, the BJD will hold a demonstration in front of the Raj Bhavan on April 10 followed by demonstrations before the Revenue Divisional Office (RDC) in Brahmapur on April 11 and Sambalpur RDC on April 12,” said Dasburma.