Bhubaneswar: In a scathing attack on Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress on Sunday claimed that both these parties are in league to facilitate rule by bureaucrats and ‘outsiders’ in the state.
Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, newly appointed Odisha in-charge of Congress alleged that Odisha is the only state where ‘outsiders’ and bureaucrats are ruling, leaving the elected representatives powerless.
People of the state are suffering as the ruling BJD is operating as an ‘outsourced’ party, he claimed.
Alleging rampant corruption in all spheres in the state, the Congress leader targeted Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the situation in Odisha.
Targeting Naveen with ‘outsider’ jibe, Kumar said, “Bahar ke log Odisha par Bhari hain’ and people of the state must throw them out and re-establish Odia pride.
Quoting Abraham Lincoln’s government of the people, by the people and for the people, the Congress leader said, ‘Odisha should be of Odias, by Odias and for Odias.’
Calling upon the people of Odisha to oust ‘outsiders’ and save the state, Kumar said Naveen had turned made the state poor by giving away the mining and other sectors to ‘outsiders’.
Stating that there is no dearth of talented MPs, MLAs, or leaders, he sought to know as to why the CM is giving all powers to an outsider and why contracts worth crores of rupees are being given to outsiders.
As key activities in mining and other sectors have also been handed over to outsiders, Odisha is still counted as the poorest state with all the money going out, he claimed.
Claiming that both BJD and BJP are working together, the Congress leader said because of their undeclared alliance there is no ED, or CBI raid in Odisha. Despite rampant corruption in Odisha, Modi government ensures that there is no ED, CBI or IT raid in the state, he alleged
Attacking the Odisha government in same vein, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Sarat Pattanayak called BJP and BJD as brothers and said both are working for the interest of each other.
Claiming that BJP and BJD have entered into an understanding for the upcoming elections, he said people should oust them from power and vote for Congress.
