Naveen hits election trail, lashes out at Centre over ‘negligence’ towards Odisha

Nabarangpur: Intensifying election campaign trail for the upcoming battle 2019, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today once again lambasted at Centre over negligence towards Odisha in all spheres.

Addressing a huge gathering at Raighar in Nabarangpur district today, Patnaik said that the Central leaders had never visited the tribal district during five-year tenure, but frequent during elections to woo voters.

He questioned the Centre over discontinuation of KBK scheme and SC/ST Scholarship scheme depriving the beneficiaries in the tribal region of the State. Also, he raised the Mahanadi issue, farmer insurance, MSP hike and Centre’s failure to build a new rail line for Nabarangpur.

“Why the Centre stopped the KBK and SC/ST Scholarship schemes? Why it obstructed Mahanadi water? Where was the farmer insurance? Where were 10 crore farmers? Where was two-fold hike in MSP? Where was new rail line for Nabarangpur? Where was irrigation to farming land?” He asked saying, “Odisha spent Rs 20,000 crore for irrigation, but Centre sanctioned only Rs 250 crore for the project.”

Speaking on KALIA money dues, he said that the two-installment amount of Rs 10,000 will be transferred to farmers in a row on the first day of formation of BJD government in Odisha.

He had announced it yesterday at an election campaign programme at Jeypore.

He made it clear that additional 25 lakh farmers will be enlisted in the KALIA scheme soon, adding, “Not a single farmer will be deducted from getting the financial assistance under the scheme.”

He alleged that the Central leaders were missing when Odisha was devastated by natural calamities.

“Where were you during natural calamities? Now they are visiting Odisha to gain votes,” he said adding, “I am with you and will always with the State people.”