The Opposition Congress in Odisha on Thursday criticised both the State and the Union Governments for neglecting the cause of the State.
Attacking the Narendra Modi Government for delinking eight schemes from the Centre’s sponsorship and changing sharing pattern in as many as 24 Centrally-sponsored schemes, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Narasingha Mishra alleged that the Biju Janata Dal had an understanding with the Bharatiya Janata Party not to criticise the Centre over neglect of the State’s cause.
Alleging that a “secret deal” had been struck between Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to save the BJD leaders in Odisha from chit fund scam, coal scam and mining scams, Mr. Mishra said it was obviously that the BJD was maintaining a “mysterious silence” even after many vital welfare schemes were delinked from Central assistance.
The BJD government was always taking an anti-Centre stand earlier and making allegations of Centre’s negligence despite the previous United Progressive Alliance Government providing big assistance to implement the Centrally-funded schemes in Odisha, Mr. Mishra pointed out.
‘No alternative plan’
The Leader of Opposition pooh-poohed the BJP’s argument that the financial assistance from the Centre that Odisha would lose would be compensated by the funds as per the 14{+t}{+h}Finance Commission recommendations. “This hike in assistance was expected in its regular course,” he added.
Mr. Mishra expressed concern that the State government had not prepared any alternative plan to continue with the welfare schemes after Centre ceases releasing funds under various schemes including the Backward Regions Grant Funds (BGRF).
The Congress leader blamed the Naveen Patnaik Government for paying little attention toward the drinking water crisis in Bolangir town because the residents there had voted for Congress in the last Assembly elections.
