Adding to its election promises, the Congress on Sunday stated here that it would make education completely free for girls till end of their study.
Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patanik made this promise at the party’s Janajagaran Samavesh held here. He too reiterated that the Congress, if voted to power, would waive agriculture loans, provide assistance to farmers for five years, besides solar pumps for cultivation free of cost.
He alleged that the State Government has neglected farmers, youths and women during the last 19 years.
Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra demanded that all the 14 blocks and urban local bodies be declared as drought-affected and agricultural loans of farmers be waived fully the entire Balangir district has been affected by inadequate rainfall and pest attack. He too demanded that the FCI procure paddy from famers of the district as crops were damaged in untimely rains.
He warned that the State Government would face wrath of farmers in case they are not provided insurance money for crop losses soon.
AICC Mohan Prakash said a trend of change in the Government that happened in Rajasthan would happen in Odisha too. The Modi Government at the Center has pushed the country’s economy to 10 years back, he alleged.
Former MP Sarat Pattanayak demanded that the State Government procure paddy at Rs 2,500 per quintal in line with the Chhattisgarh Government.
He said the Congress would win five Assembly seats in the district and Niranjan Patnaik would be the next Chief Minister of the State.
Among others, senior leaders like Bhakta Charan Das, Kishore Patel, Surendra Singh Bhoi, Santosh Singh Saluja, Seikh Mustan Ali, AICC member Samarendra Mishra (son of Narasingha Mishra), Sudhir Parischha, Asim Pattnaik and Laxman Meher spoke.
Former Loisingha BJD MLA Ramakanta Seth joined the Congress on the occasion.
The 68-year-old bachelor politician was elected to the Assembly in 2009 on a BJD ticket. However in 2014, the BJD fielded Jogendra Behera, who won the seat by defeating his nearest Congress rival Pandaba Chandra Kumbhar by a huge margin.