UPA govt neglected Orissa, says Naveen

The Statesman (Kolkata), March 20, 2009
Statesman News Service

BHAWANIPATNA, DHENKANAL, March 19: Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik targeted the Congress led UPA government alleging that it had deliberately neglected Orissa.
Addressing election meetings at Thuamul Rampur and Mandal of Kalahandi district today, Mr Patnaik claimed that in the field of agriculture development, industrialisation, women empowerment and tribal development, Orissa had progressed a great deal during his regime.
But Central sectors like railways, royalty on minerals etc, the state suffered due to the apathy of the UPA government. Even flood assistance was meager, he charged while noting that Bihar got over Rs 1500 crore whereas Orissa was given only Rs 100 crore.
On the recent split in the BJD-BJP alliance, Mr Patnaik accused the BJP of having planned the collapse of the alliance. Since six months back certain frontal organisations of the BJP were creating disharmony in the state and stern action was taken against them. "BJP ministers were hurling all kinds of allegations against the government after the drubbing they received in the municipal elections," he said.
The chief minister tried to explain that it was the BJP which had rushed to the Governor and withdrawn support from the government.
Among others BJD legislator Mr Balabhadra Majhi addressed the public meeting.
At Siminai in Dhenkanal district, the chief minister said that his party will seek votes on the basis of the development work and pro-people policies initiated by his government over the last nine years.
He explained the reasons for the break up in the alliance between the BJD and BJP and went on to repeat his allegations at the Congress led UPA government.
Mr Mahesh Sahoo who had switched over from BJP to the BJD and district BJD president Mr Yogi Tripathy, minister Mr Pradeep Amat were also present at the public meeting.