Odisha CM using govt funds for party promotion, alleges Congress

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Rourkela, Dec 8:

Odisha Congress President Prasad Harichandan today accused Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of using state government funds for promotional activities of his party Biju Janata Dal.

“Even after being in the Chief Minister’s seat for 17 years, Naveen Patnaik needs to use the government machinery to tour every district using government funds to organise government programmes and inaugurate hundreds of projects. This is aimed at benefiting Biju Janata Dal. It is not going to work,” said Harichandan addressing a function of Congress in Bonai town of Sundargarh district.

BJD, on the other, refuted the allegation.

“Opposition is making baseless allegations. It is unfortunate to term government programmes as poll campaign. They would be right, if the government goes ahead with announcements of welfare schemes or does any such thing once the code of conduct is in force. However, nothing of that sort happened here,” said BJD Spokesperson Dibya Shankar Mishra.

Prasad, meanwhile, further pulled up the State Government for the law and order situation and over the black stole controversy.

“This government takes off the overclothes from women in the name of security, yet claims of “respect to women”. The Chief Minister only ordered an investigation in an attempt to cover-up. He should have taken immediate action,” he added.

Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Hemanand Biswal, who was also present on the occasion, said that his party is geared up for the panchayat polls.

“Today we had a successful meeting with party cadre. Congress is ready for the upcoming panchayat polls. We will take the failure of the State Government to the public and put up a strong fight against BJD,” said Biswal.