Bhubaneswar: Ruling BJD and opposition BJP in Odisha were engaged in sharp exchange of barbs over Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s allegation that law and order machinery had crumbled in the state.
Soon after Pradhan mounted the attack on BJD and said its leaders were working against democratic norms, Pranab Prakash Das (Bobby), in a post in social media X accused him of making no contribution to his own district Angul.
“We had asked you three straight questions. Instead of giving answers, you are getting agitated by the facts. We want to ask what have you contributed to your own district Angul or even neighbouring Dhenkanal or Sambalpur?,” said Das.
The BJD leader further said, “As Union Minister of Education and Skill Development, you have not been able to pen a Central University or a Skill Centre in these places. The National Highway 55 going through these districts continues to remain in poor condition for which you are also forced to take state highway as diversion.”
Reacting sharply to Das’ comments, BJP leader Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra alleged that neither BJD nor its leaders have always been evasive about the BJP’s questions in the last 25 years. “Even today, neither BJD nor the chief minister is able to clarify the posers of the BJP. Apparently, your leaders are having trouble with their blood pressure,” he said.
Clarifying Pradhan’s contributions to Odisha, Mohapatra said during his tenure as Union Petroleum Minister, he had mobilised investment of more than Rs 2.4 lakh crore for the state.
“Instead of pointing fingers at BJP, your party should answer to Governor whose query has not been replied by the chief minister till date. He had wanted to know from the government how much of Rs 60,000 crore revenue earned from Angul was spent for its development,” Mohapatra said.
“It is a habit on the part of BJD to question back to the queries from opposition parties. It is high time the party engage in self-introspection about its promises and achievements,” the BJP leader advised.
Also Read: People Of Odisha To Teach BJD A Lesson For Its ‘Arrogance’, Says Dharmendra
