Bhubaneswar: Alleging large scale financial irregularities in Odisha, BJP on Saturday announced plan to observe ‘Corruption Day’ across the state on Sunday on the occasion of Panchayati Raj Diwas in a unique way of attacking the BJD government.
Panchayati Raj Diwas is observed in Odisha on March 5 as a tribute to legendary leader and former chief minister Biju Patnaik on his birth anniversary.
As part of its plan to observe ‘Bhrastachar Diwas’ on Sunday, BJP has decided to stage protest in all 314 blocks of the state where BJP workers will wrap black cloth on their hands as a symbolic opposition to alleged corruption.
Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, BJP state general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan alleged that Odisha has become a breeding ground for corruption as irregularities to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore take place every year in the Panchayati Raj system.
Mounting a scathing attack on the BJD government, the senior BJP leader said observation of Panchayati Raj Diwas on March 5 is of no meaning as the entire nation celebrates the day on April 24. Odisha is the only state doing it on March 5, he said.
Claiming that the state has become a hub for corruption, the BJP leader said the Panchayati Raj system is getting highly politicised and immersed in corruption with legislators of the ruling party controlling PRI affairs, in an assault on and direct democracy.
Coming down heavily on the BJD government, he said BJP seeks answers to several questions from Naveen Patnaik government.
Seeking to know as to who is doing corruption in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Odisha, he asked why the state government is not preparing its new list of beneficiaries.
The BJP leader also wanted to know as to who is behind irregularities in MGNREGS and job card fraud.
Harichandan also raised questions on utilisation of money allocated for panchayats by the Centre to the state under Central Finance Commission (CFC). He alleged that state government is rebranding CFC funds and using the money in other sectors.
Alleging that MLAs and officials at district and block levels are taking commission under the Panchayati Raj structure, he sought to know as to why has the government stopped palli sabhas.
