BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday once again slammed the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre for its alleged failure to fulfil various promises for Odisha it had made five years ago.
Addressing a meeting at the BJD headquarters here on the party’s 21st Foundation Day, Patnaik targeted the Modi Government by taking up nine issues that the Centre has failed to address so far.
In effect, he posed nine issues in his reaction to as many questions Modi had raised at his Monday Khordha public meeting for the State Government to reply as regards lack of the State’s development despite the Centre’s financial assistance.
Alleging poor condition of NHs in the State, Patnaik said, “People fend for themselves while travelling on NHs like the one from Baripada to Deogarh. Don’t know what will be the condition of coastal highways in the State.”
On rail projects, the CM said the Centre has allocated land for the Khurda-Bolangir railway line and sanctioned half of the project cost, but the project has not yet made any progress.
Patnaik also took on the Centre over poor mobile connectivity, saying several villages in the State are yet to get BSNL connections while in rural areas the telecom service is particularly deplorable. One has to climb a tree or go to the rooftop of a house to get mobile connection, he said.
He also targeted the NDA Government over issues like paddy MSP, coal royalty revision, 33-per cent reservation for women and the demonetisation, which, he said, led to economic mess.
Besides, recalling the issue Biju Patnaik had made, the CM demanded financial autonomy for Odisha and said, “The State does not need Special Category Status or any Central funds or grants. Rather, Odisha wants financial autonomy so that the State will develop with its own money,” he remarked.
Patnaik exhorted the party workers to sensitise the public about various welfare initiatives undertaken by his Government.