Bhubaneswar: Pushed to a corner by the Opposition BJD’s relentless attack over the MMDR Amendment Act, the ruling BJP has found ammunition in the latest CAG report to launch a counter-offensive against the former Naveen Patnaik government.
Seizing on the audit findings of widespread misutilisation of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds, BJP accused the previous government of “looting” funds to the tune of Rs 2,880 crore intended for affected communities in mining areas.
“While BJD now protests over mining revenues, the CAG has identified serious irregularities in the use of DMF funds meant for tribal and poor communities,” BJP spokesperson Anil Bishwal told the media on Wednesday.
“BJD must clarify who looted the DMF funds meant for mining-affected people, and whose pockets this money went into,” Bishwal added.
The CAG report, which was tabled in the Assembly recently, highlights misuse across Kendujhar, Sundaragada and Jajpur, including overpayments to hospitals, contracts to inexperienced firms, and spending on projects with no beneficiaries.
The BJP leader claimed that 88% of BJD’s political donations came from mining companies, questioning whether this was linked to waived penalties. “While BJD accuses BJP of working for mining companies, facts show that of the ₹775 crore donations received by BJD, ₹682 crore (88%) came from mining companies. Was it a reward for waiving penalties recommended by the Shah Commission,” he said.
He challenged BJD to an open debate on the MMDR Amendment and the CAG findings, insisting that the CAG findings had exposed the reality of BJD’s governance, despite its current attempts to portray itself as a protector of mining rights.
‘Crocodile Tears’
Countering the BJP’s allegations, BJD accused the ruling dispensation of taking shelter of the CAG report to divert people’s attention from the MMDR issue.
“The Double Engine Government is shedding crocodile tears over the DMF Fund. BJP spokespersons and MPs are misleading the people by making fabricated statements. In a conspiracy to evade issues like the MMDR Amendment, the BJP is spreading lies and misleading the people,” BJD Senior General Secretary, Lekhashree Samantasinghar told the media.
The BJD leader further said that there is no mention of corruption involving Rs 26,000 crore anywhere in the report. “A total of Rs 26,000 crore has been collected under the entire DMF Fund. Then how could the entire amount have been misappropriated,” she added.
Stating that the fund was utilised in essential sectors such as healthcare, drinking water, COVID management, sanitation, electricity and education, Samantasinghar questioned whether spending money during an emergency situation like COVID was wrong. “There is a larger conspiracy behind the BJP repeatedly raising the issue of the DMF Fund during that period. At a time when people are questioning the BJP government over the MMDR issue, the party is carrying out a major conspiracy to divert public attention from it. It is busy making false allegations,” she said.
