The BJP-led Central Government has played with the future of Odia youths by signing the Rafale jet deal with France, alleged AICC’s Odisha in-charge Jitendra Singh on Saturday after a meeting with All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi.
“Had the engine of the fighter jets been manufactured at the Engine Division of Hindustan Aeronautics limited (HAl) at Sunabeda in Koraput district, it would have created employment opportunities for many youths in the State,” he said. He added the Congress is planning an Odisha-centric agitation to raise the issue.
Singh further informed that he along with OPCC leaders would hold meetings with the District Congress Committee presidents from Sunday. Meetings of the newly-formed committees, including that of the Pradesh Election Committee would also be held where discussions would be held on the party’s strategy and campaign line for the 2019 elections, added Singh.
PCC president Niranjan Patnaik said, “We will take the Rafale issue to the district level as Odisha suffered the most due to the deal. The Rafale deal would turn out be the biggest scam in the country.”
Earlier in the day, Singh, Patnaik ad leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra attended a meeting convened by the AICC president in New Delhi.