Opp-BJD war of words over relief, rehab continues

OST Political Bureau

Bhubaneswar, Oct 31:

Though Cyclone Phailin and the floods that followed it are now a thing of the past, politics over disbursement of relief materials to the affected people shows no signs of abating.

After the Congress, which had submitted a memorandum to Governor SC Jamir requesting him to direct the government to form all-party committees at the state and district levels to oversee relief operations in cyclone and flood affected areas, the BJP today sought to corner the government accusing it of failing miserably to provide relief materials to the affected people.

“Even though 20 days have passed since the cyclone hit Odisha coast, the state government has failed to provide relief materials in Ganjam district, which bore the brunt of nature’s fury. The district collector and other officials are threatening to arrest the people coming to register their grievances and report their losses s due to the disaster,” accused senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra here today after visiting the district.

Mohapatra demanded all assistance to the cyclone victims as soon as possible so that they can rebuild their shattered lives and livelihoods.

But the BJD accused the opposition parties of playing politics over the issue.

“The opposition parties Congress and BJP are shedding crocodile tears for the people of Odisha. While Congress is hoodwinking people by announcing that Rahul Gandhi and the Prime Minister will visit the affected districts, no one has come so far. No senior BJP leader from the Centre has visited the state either,” said youth wing president of BJD Sanjay Dasburma.

In a memorandum submitted to the Governor yesterday, PCC president Jaydev Jena had demanded waiver of agricultural loan taken by the affected farmers and reimbursement of the total expenditure incurred on raising crops by those who have not taken loans.