Differences between the Central Government and the State Government came to fore when Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC) questioned the State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on lack of Central assistance to fight against COVID-19.
Talking to media JPCC Chief and Food Supply Minister of the State, Rameshwar Oraon said that MPs, MLAs and other leaders of the BJP are busy in campaigning loudly that the help of crores of rupees is being given to Jharkhand by the Central Government, but the truth is that till now only Rs 284 crore have been made available to Jharkhand Government in the name of Covid-19 disaster relief.
"In this hour of crisis, extensive steps have been taken by the State Government to provide food grains to every family. The efforts are going on to provide help to migrant laborers, students, patients and their families trapped in other parts of the Country, besides efforts are being made to provide food grains and health facilities to the people in this hour of crisis. Apart from this, lakhs of people will return after the lockdown has to be arranged for them to stay in the quarantine centers, in such a situation, the assistance of only Rs 284 crores by the Central Government is insufficient," said Oraon.
JPCC Chief said that the drum is also being beaten loudly by the BJP leaders that free food grains are being provided to Jharkhand while the truth is that the lifting of food grains from Food Corporation of India and then its distribution through dealers in the State, the State Government has to spend around Rs 84 crore. In such a situation, the saying of BJP leaders that food grains are being provided completely free of charge is beyond the truth, he added.
Oraon said that he also does not want to say that no relief has been provided by the Central Government but it would be fairer to say that the assistance provided by the Central Government is very less and special package to backward states like Jharkhand must be given.
He added that the BJP leaders are fasting in their house from 10 am to 4 pm, they can understand how much truth is there in their claim but if they fasted in front of Raj Bhawan, then people could also see that they are fasting for so long.