"At least 25 tribals, including 14 in Kalinganagar in Jajpur district, have been killed in police firing during 12 years of BJD rule. Neither Patnaik nor his tribal candidate Sangma visited Kalinganagar to console the families whose members were killed in police firing," Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief spokesman Narasingha Mishra said.
While appealing to political parties, Patnaik on the other hand, described Sangma as a "distinguished" tribal leader hailing from North-East and belonging to the minority community. "Our party was first to name Sangma on May 17 as he belonged to tribal community," Patnaik said.
"A quarter of the state's population is tribal," Patnaik told reporters while projecting Sangma as the "best" candidate for the post of President of India.
Rejecting Congress allegations, Patnaik said during the last 12 years his government had launched a series of tribal welfare schemes like Biju KBK Yojana, Biju Kandhamal Yojana, Biju Gajapati Yojana besides introducing Rs 2 kg rice targeting the tribal population.
Apart from this, Patnaik claimed that his government had also taken several steps to encourage tribals students, particularly girls, to education.
Mishra's statement came a few days after union tribal affairs minister V K Deo wrote a letter to the Chief Minister asking him to allow tribals to gather bamboo in forests.
Deo said in his letter that the tribals in Odisha were being harassed by forest department officials.