The Congress on Friday hoped that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would announce a special programme to eradicate poverty from Odisha during his two-day stay here on Saturday and Sunday.
“The Prime Minister has termed Odisha an example of poverty at his different meetings across the country. It has pained people of Odisha. We hope that Modi will announce a special scheme for Odisha poverty eradication,” PCC president Prasad Harichandan told a Press conference here.
Stating that BJP and the BJD are equally responsible for the State’s penury as they had ruled the State together for long nine years, Harichandan criticised the saffron party for having only mastered in making tall promises.
“The BJP had promised to provide special State status to Odisha in its election manifest. Though it has already completed three years in power, why it has not kept its promise,” the PCC chief demanded to know.
Informing that Odisha stands at the 28th position in the Raghurajan Committee’s list on development, Harichanan wanted to know why the NDA Government didn’t listen to Odisha’s longstanding demand when it announced a special package of Rs 1,25,000 crore for Bihar just two days ahead of issuance of election notification.
Harichandan too wanted to why a CBI probe has not been ordered for investigation into the mining scam in the State as per the recommendation of the Shah Commission.
He demanded that the Prime Minister make a clarification as to why five medical colleges, announced during the UPA II Government, are yet to be completed when the BJP-led NDA Government has completed three years in power.
He alleged that the Centre is utilising the Nalco’s profits for development of Gujarat.