Reacting to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s allegation on Sunday that national parties have been neglecting Odisha, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday said Patnaik is making such charges in order to cover up the “failures” of his Government in all sectors.
“Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has failed to provide basic amenities to people during his 18 years of rule. As opposition parties are raising voice on his Government’s failures in primary healthcare, education, agriculture, irrigation, drinking water and law and order sectors, the Chief Minister is blaming national parties to cover up his own failures,” said Pradhan.
The Union Minister further alleged that it is not the BJP but the Congress that has betrayed Odisha, but Patnaik has a secret understanding with the Congress.
Pradhan claimed that the percentage of beneficiary families under the NFSA and the quantum of railway support have increased during the last three years of the BJP-led Government at the Centre.
“While 42 per cent of families had earlier been included in the NFSA, now the number of beneficiary families has crossed 86 lakh. The allocation for Odisha in the Railway Budget stood over Rs 5,100 crore this year. Are these being done for political interest,” wanted to know Pradhan.
Besides, he claimed that projects for construction of 4,800-km NHs have been sanctioned during the last three years against total 4,700 km till 2015 since Independence. While the number of lPG consumers was 20.22 lakh till June 2014, the number has risen to 52 lakh now.