BJP slams UPA for ignoring State

The Pioneer, Nov 1, 2007
Nimai Charan Sahu | Sambalpur

A day after completion of the State executive meet of the BJP at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district, the party's State president Suresh Pujari declared that his party would not act as a mute spectator to the negligence of the Centre towards Orissa.

Taking to mediapersons on Tuesday, Pujari slammed the UPA Government for maintaining a step-motherly attitude towards Orissa as well as hampering the further progress of the State.

Further criticising the UPA, he said that it is because of this shabby treatment that the State is still deprived of a Central University, a Tribal University, AIIMS or IIT, or even more funds for communication network in the State as well as kerosene and cooking gas quota.

He further alleged that due to the Centre's apathetic attitude in the past and present, Orissa is still poor inspite of possessing huge quantities of natural resources.

When questioned regarding the Congress' allegation of incompetence of the BJP-BJD coalition Government for non-utilisation of Central funds, Pujari challenged the Congress to publish a white paper regarding the funds allocated to Orissa and other States. "For our 1,600 km new National Highways, the UPA Government has not even given sixteen rupees," he informed. "Orissa is neglected and humiliated when there is a Congress Government at the Centre," said Pujari.

In a bid to protest such negligence his party would launch a two month long agitation throughout the State on three point programme.

Refusal of installing the statues of Orissa's Freedom fighters Veer Surendra Sai and Buxi Jagabandhu is yet another example of the UPA Government's 'love' towards Orissa, said Pujari satirically. These two heroes including Chakara Bisoi started fighting against the British rule much before 1857, reminded Pujari.

During the two months agitation BJP would demand minimum support price for paddy like that of wheat at the rate of Rs 1,000 per quintal. It would also protest the Setu Samudram Prakalpa of UPA and TN Government demolishing the millions' year old Ram Setu, he said.

Answering on the massive industrialisation and its adverse impact on agriculture in the State, Pujari maintained, "My party welcomes industries but not at the cost of agriculture."