Orissa has gathered much disrepute: Rahul

The Statesman, April 9, 2009

Statesman News Service
PHULBANI/BHAWANIPATNA, April 8: “Orissa, once a peaceful state, has earned national and international disrepute due to the communal violence that took place in this district last year,” said Congress leader Mr Rahul Gandhi while addressing an election meeting at Baliguda today.
Without naming any political party, he charged that some parties and divisive forces had destroyed the peace and communal harmony in the region.
Mr Gandhi’s meeting in the sensitive area drew huge crowds and the district administration had a tough time.
Mr Gandhi appealed the people to cast their votes in favour of Congress both at the Centre and the state to ensure progressive, dependable and stable government.
Highlighting various initiatives of the Congress-led UPA at the Centre, he said: “The UPA has done a lot of things for the states, but in Orissa, it could not reach out to the people due to slackness and apathy of the BJD-BJP government here. They did nothing for the people,” and added: “We have given 100 days of guaranteed job in a year to the needy ones, we have returned lands to the tribals and assured electricity for each and every village.”
“We have kept our promises, because we are committed to the welfare of the people particularly of the rural mass,” he said.
Among others, Union minister of state for coal Mr Santosh Bagrodia, OPCC chief Brig. KP Singh Deo, National SC Commission member Mr Mrutyunjay Nayak and Congress candidate for Phulbani Lok Sabha seat Mr Sujeet Padhi spoke on the occasion.
The Congress candidates for the three Assembly constituencies of the district were also present on the occasion.
On the second day of his tour to the state, the AICC general secretary also addressed election meeting at Dharmagarh in Kalahandi district.
At Dharmagarh, Mr Gandhi delivered a rather sentimental speech. He said that he will strengthen the bond between his family with the people of Orissa.
The Gandhi family scion launched a scathing attack on the state government and charged that it has failed to utilise even 75 per cent of the funds allotted for various development schemes.
"The state government has failed in various fronts like education and health," he said while holding it responsible for the state’s backwardness.
"If all the sections of the society do not develop, the society as a whole can not march ahead," he pointed out while listing out the UPA-initiated schemes like NREGS, loan waiver and RTI.