Bhubaneswar: Mounting a scathing attack on Odisha’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government, Congress on Saturday alleged that corruption is rampant in every sphere and Rs 1019 crore has been siphoned from the state exchequer.
Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, Odisha Congress spokesperson Sudarsan Das alleged that the state government has virtually become a ‘30% PC Sarkar’ as no work is done without percentage commission (PC).
“PC culture is rampant starting from panchayat to state secretariat and this varies from 20 to 40 percent. Under the garb of transparency, this government has become most corrupt government the state has ever seen,” the Congress leader alleged.
Coming down heavily on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, he said that the CM had committed to make Panchayat system free from percentage culture way back in 2017 and instructed district Collectors to ensure that strict action is taken against the erring officers.
Accordingly, in June 2017, actions were taken against 258 officers and employees and the state Assembly was given this information, Das said. However, thereafter, the Naveen government has been silent on PC which is now rampant starting from Panchayat to state secretariat, the Congress leader claimed.
Referring to the much-hyped ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’ scheme, Das claimed that there has been PC transaction of around Rs 1019 crore in the programme so far.
While the total fund allocation for Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha in 2022-2023 is Rs 3397 crore, over Rs 1019 crore has siphoned away from the public exchequer through 30 percent commission, the Congress leader alleged.
Likewise, Rs 380 crore has been looted through 5T Schools for which a provision of Rs 1268 crore was made, he claimed, adding that the PC money is being used by the ruling BJD for electoral gains. Congress has thrown an open challenge to the BJD Party to refute the allegations, he added.
Refuting the allegation made by the Congress leader as baseless and false, BJD MLA Sambit Routray said making false charges without showing any evidence is of no meaning.
Stating that the Chief Minister has taken concrete steps to ensure transparency in the implementation of all schemes, he said 5T and Nabin Odisha chairman has been touring different districts to ensure timely completion of all work. Concrete steps have been taken by the state government to prevent corruption, he claimed.
