Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD) vice-president and Kosli Ekta Manch presidium member Baidyanath Mishra has criticised Prime Minister Modi for being soft to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and remaining silent over separate State demand in his speech at the recent Bargarh farmers’ rally.
“The PM’s speech lacked its usual punch and style. He taunted the CM in n a lighter vein stating that he (CM) was propagating his Bargarh visit programme in advance. But his dig at Naveen Pattnaik was evident only when he regretted saying Odisha lags behind in the farming sector despite its richness in water resources second to Uttar Pradesh,” observed Mishra.
Mishra said the Prime Minister should have announced a compensation package at least for families of farmers who have committed suicide.
“It was the minimum expectation on which he remained silent,” Mishra said. He also slammed the PM for not accepting the CM’s recommendation for inclusion of Kosli language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
Mishra said it was equally surprising that the PM remained silent on the separate State demand comprising economic backwardness of more than half of the districts of Odisha, including KBK districts.