It is now cheap rice versus Special Category State (SCS) status in the Odisha politics ahead of the General Elections. While the Opposition Congress has embarked upon the issue of cheap rice to defame the ruling BJD, the latter is harping on its demand that the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre grant SCS tag to Odisha.
The Congress has since July 11 launched a Statewide FIR campaign against the Chief Minister accusing him of reduced supply of subsidised to the BPl families.
“We hold Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik responsible for distribution of 10 kg of rice less per BPl family per month. The State Cabinet under the chairmanship of Patnaik has taken the decision to distribute less quantity of rice,” PCC president Jayadev Jena said while leading a group of BPl families to file FIR in Cuttack.
Terming the Congress’ allegation and FIR campaign as a “political propaganda”, Patnaik said, “The Odisha Government has been giving rice at the rate of `1 a kg to BPl families.”
Jena said both Patnaik and Food and Supplies Minister Pratap Keshari Deb are made parties in the alleged fraud of 10 kg of rice from each family. “We demand return of rice to the affected families,” the OPCC chief said.
Stating that the police have been urged to lodge complaints against the State Government under Section 406 of IPC, senior Congress leader and prominent lawyer Narashingha Mishra said distribution of less quantity of rice amounts to a “criminal breach of trust”. “How can a Government
procure 35 kg for a poor family and give 25 kgIJ” he asked.
The Congress claims that distribution of less quantity of rice among poor families also invokes provisions under the Essential Commodities Act.
At least 33 party observers are overseeing the FIR campaign in all organisational districts and persuading the BPl families to lodge complaints over the issue. The campaign would continue for a week till July 18.
To counter the Congress’ offensive, the BJD at the instance of the Chief Minister has decided to organise hunger strike programme across the State as the second phase of its agitation for pressing the demand of Special Category State status.
BJD vice-president and Finance Minister Prasanna Acharya said ruling party members and supporters went on fast from 10 am to 5 pm on July 12 and the programme would be repeated on July 15 or 16 at the district level. The local party units would hold hunger strike in front of the offices of the blocks and municipalities.
The Congress’ stir over the cheap rice issue has obviously prompted the BJD to resume its agitation on the SCS issue marking completion of one month of its Swabhiman Samabesh in New Delhi. “Though one month has passed since we held the rally in Delhi, the Central Government has no concern over our demand,” Acharya said. After the rally, the BJD had also submitted one crore signatures to the President of India supporting its demand of SCS status for Odisha.