 "Congress challenges Naveen for open debate on central neglect")
Reacting to the allegation of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) about central negligence regarding grant of special category status to Odisha and delaying mineral royalty revision, the Odisha state Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) today challenged the ruling party leader to participate in an open debate.
“If the chief minister does not respond to our challenge by Monday (March 10), then as per the decision of PCC, we will invite him for an open debate to discuss about central assistance and the inability of his government to spend the money,” said Srikant Jena, senior Congress leader and Union minister of state for chemicals and fertilisers.
In the electoral meetings conducted at three places of the state, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had stated that the Centre had turned down the Odisha’s demand for special state status while it accorded the same status to Seemandhra recently. The special category status would pave way for more financial assistance and grants from the Centre.
“I have information of out of nearly Rs 131 crore money sanctioned for KBK (Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput) region, nearly Rs 50 crore has been siphoned off by the government officials and some local leaders of the ruling party,” said Giridhar Gamang, former Odisha chief minister and Congress MP from undivided Koraput district.
The main opposition party also lambasted the ruling party for not trying to impose mining cess in mineral bearing land even after the Supreme Court order favouring it.
“Though the top court has said that the states cannot impose cess on mineral production, they have a right to impose tax on mineral bearing land. The Odisha government has been sitting over the proposal since 2004 under the BJD government. Why can’t Patnaik take steps to collect to cess from amending the existing rules in the assembly,” asked Narasimha Mishra, a senior Congress leader.
The Congress leaders also sought to take the wind out of the BJD sail by asserting that the maximum subsidy for the latter’s flagship programme to provide rice at Rs 1 per kg is borne by the Centre. BJD is trying to take advantage from the scheme though ninety per cent of the subsidy for the scheme is provided by the Centre, they said. “Most of the schemes which have benefited the people of Odisha are financed by the Centre, but BJD is trying to misguide the people saying these are being implemented by the state government,” said the Union minister at a press meet at Congress Bhavan today.
The party is expected to release its first list of candidates for assembly polls within next two days, said Jayadev Jena, the PCC president.
“If the chief minister does not respond to our challenge by Monday (March 10), then as per the decision of PCC, we will invite him for an open debate to discuss about central assistance and the inability of his government to spend the money,” said Srikant Jena, senior Congress leader and Union minister of state for chemicals and fertilisers.
In the electoral meetings conducted at three places of the state, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had stated that the Centre had turned down the Odisha’s demand for special state status while it accorded the same status to Seemandhra recently. The special category status would pave way for more financial assistance and grants from the Centre.
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State Congress leaders countered the argument saying, Patnaik must explain what his government has done with the backward region grant fund and KBK region development fund.
“I have information of out of nearly Rs 131 crore money sanctioned for KBK (Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput) region, nearly Rs 50 crore has been siphoned off by the government officials and some local leaders of the ruling party,” said Giridhar Gamang, former Odisha chief minister and Congress MP from undivided Koraput district.
The main opposition party also lambasted the ruling party for not trying to impose mining cess in mineral bearing land even after the Supreme Court order favouring it.
“Though the top court has said that the states cannot impose cess on mineral production, they have a right to impose tax on mineral bearing land. The Odisha government has been sitting over the proposal since 2004 under the BJD government. Why can’t Patnaik take steps to collect to cess from amending the existing rules in the assembly,” asked Narasimha Mishra, a senior Congress leader.
The Congress leaders also sought to take the wind out of the BJD sail by asserting that the maximum subsidy for the latter’s flagship programme to provide rice at Rs 1 per kg is borne by the Centre. BJD is trying to take advantage from the scheme though ninety per cent of the subsidy for the scheme is provided by the Centre, they said. “Most of the schemes which have benefited the people of Odisha are financed by the Centre, but BJD is trying to misguide the people saying these are being implemented by the state government,” said the Union minister at a press meet at Congress Bhavan today.
The party is expected to release its first list of candidates for assembly polls within next two days, said Jayadev Jena, the PCC president.