BJP challenges BJD's 'ploy' of Central neglect of Odisha

The BJP on Saturday came down heavily on the ruling BJD for playing the old card of ‘Central neglect’ to stall the State Assembly as a self-defence practice to get respite from the Opposition’s attack in the Prakash Mishra case.  Briefing mediapersons here, senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra said the BJD has no answer in the Prakash Mishra case or the Sarathi Baba scandal or the Brahma Parivartan fiasco; so, it has started creating farce on the Assembly floor by flaunting banners bearing slogans of the Central Government’s negligence which is not true at all.

“We are ready to have a discussion on the Central neglect allegation in the Assembly. Will the BJD accept the challengeIJ Sloganeering is much easier than real discussion,” Mohapatra said and added that the BJP Government at the Centre has provided more assistance to the State than any previous Government.

Mohapatra said the Chief Minister himself had praised the Centre for sanctioning more funds in the Railway Budget. The Centre has given top educational institutions like IIM and IISER to Odisha, sanctioned `35,000 crore to boost NH infrastructure in the State, invested over Rs 1lakh crore on the Paradip Refinery and approved other financial assistance to boost the State’s economy. 

“After getting so much of help from the Centre, the State Government’s mindless allegation is unfortunate,” he said.On the Prakash Mishra case, Mohapatra said the State Government is in trouble as the Opposition is in full form to attack it. “It was a loss of face for the State Government in the Supreme Court. The case proved how a Government can go to any level to defame an honest officer,” he said.On the Gajbhiye land issue, Mohapatra said the party would gherao the Gop tehsil office in Puri district on Monday protesting the former Kendrapada SP’s brutal attack on public and possession of illegal land in the Gop area.