Dissatisfactory arrangements alleged
This year the Independence Day celebrated here saw a gamut of aberrations in arrangements and speeches of guests. The decisions taken at the preparatory meeting were seldom adhered to by different committees as most of them were controlled by Government babus.
The space reserved for mediapersons were mostly occupied by others. There was no drinking water facility for the invited guests.
While the gathering expected an ex-tempore speech from Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sudam Marandi, who hoisted the flag as chief guest, he read out only a written note. He very often talked about Koraput district and a little about Rayagada. Except boasting of his Government’s steps for a 250-bed hospital, which is still under construction, and a medical college, recently announced by the Chief Minister, he did not have much to say about Rayagada.
“May be the speech of the Minister is a reflection of the denigration of morality due to several scams of the Naveen Government like dal, mines and most recently land and flat scams,” said District Kalinga Sena advisor Guru Prasad Sahu.
Though DIPRO Jagannath Prasad Raiguru was on the dais, District Emergency Officer Ramesh Chandra Takri made all the official announcements.
Takri was seen fumbling as he addressed district Collector Dr Sashibhusan Padhi as Patra and the Minister on the dais as Chief Minister during his speech. He did not even rectify his speech aberrations.
Among others, Zilla Parishad president Sujata Mandingi, Bissam Cuttack MlA Jagannath Saraka, SP, Commandant-CRPF 4th Battalion, Rayagada Sub-Collector and Rayagada PA-ITDA shared the dais.