BJP Slams Odisha CM, Says Naveen Should Have Gone To Kotia Before Japan Visit

Bhubaneswar: Hitting out at Odisha Chief Minister over his Japan visit, BJP on Monday said Naveen Patnaik should have gone to Kotia in Koraput district before embarking upon a foreign tour to see the ground situation in the area where Andhra Pradesh has been making intrusion.

Speaking to reporters in Bhubaneswar, BJP MLA Mukesh Mahaling said party stalwart and leader of opposition (LoP) Jayanarayan Mishra had earlier slammed the Chief Minister over his Japan visit.

BJP had also criticised the way in which the budget session of the Assembly was cut short and adjourned sine die ahead of schedule, he said, adding that the party also gave a call for the CM – ‘Japan Chada, Kotia Chala’ (give up Japan & visit Kotia).

In view of the pathetic situation in Kotia where Andhra Pradesh has been making intrusion, the Chief Minister should have gone there before proceeding to Japan with a large team, the BJP leader said.

Claiming that the Japan visit will fail to yield any result, the BJP legislator said Odisha occupies 19^th place in terms of FDI flow into the country. FDI flow to Odisha is just 0.8 per cent of the total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country, he claimed, terming the much-hyped Make In Odisha conclaves organised by the state government as a big flop.

Alleging that none of the major MoUs signed by the state government has been implemented, Mahaling said unemployment in the state is quite higher than the national average. Over 32 lakh youths in Odisha are facing unemployment, he claimed.

Mounting a scathing attack on the BJD government, another BJP MLA Sanatan Bijuli claimed that flow of investment to the state is dwindling due to rampant corruption.