like previous UPA Government, the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre has adopted step-motherly attitude towards Odisha and is only shedding crocodile tears over plights of its people, who have suffered a lot due to floods, droughts and other calamities, alleged Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) general secretary Bijay Nayak.
In a statement, Nayak said even though the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has already submitted a demand of Rs 3,500 crore before the Union Finance Minister for compensation of drought-hit farmers, the Centre is yet to give any assistance.
He said the Narendra Modi Government merely sent a team to assess damage of crops due to drought in Odisha and sat silent. "like previous UPA Government, the present NDA Government is also neglecting Odisha. With sending a team to asses crop damages and then sitting silent without giving a single pie, the Centre has only added salt to the wounds of drought-hit farmers," alleged Nayak.
He too lamented that the Centre is yet to consider the demand of special State category status of Odisha. "The Centre has announced to give special packages of `1.25 crore to Bihar and `2.50 crore to Andhra Pradesh. It soon gave to 1,000 crore to Jammu and Kashmir immediately after it was hit by floods. But it is yet to consider our State's longstanding special category status demand," lamented Nayak.