File Photo: Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik
Slamming BJD government in Odisha for complaining of central neglect, BJP today said it was a ploy of the ruling party to hide its failure in all spheres, particularly after being exposed in the "false case" slapped against IPS officer Prakash Mishra.
"Naveen Patnaik government is deliberately playing a politics on central apathy. The BJD regime is accusing the Centre of neglecting Odisha only to cover up its own failures on all spheres," senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra told reporters in Bhubaneswar.
Though BJD government was fully aware that the volume of funds to Odisha from Centre was much higher than Rs 1.25 lakh crore package announced for Bihar, it sought to mislead people, divert their attention from real problems and to evade discussion on these issues in the Assembly, he said.
Stating that during 2015-16, Odisha got 43 per cent more than what it got last year, Mr Mohapatra said while Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari recently announced projects worth Rs 32,000 crore, Rs 1 lakh crore was being pumped into petrochemical and oil sector in Odisha.
Besides, five medical colleges were being set up in the state for which the Centre would bear 75 per cent of expenses, he said, adding that several other premier institutions including IIM were also being set up in the state and there was no question of negligence by the Centre.
Accusing the state government of trying to avoid discussion in the Assembly on its fiasco in ex-DGP Prakash Mishra episode, the BJP leader said it was a slap on the face of ruling BJD after Orissa High Court quashed the vigilance case against Mishra.
The SLP filed by the state government seeking a stay on High Court verdict was also dismissed by the Supreme Court, Mr Mohapatra said, adding that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had no moral right to remain in office as the case was filed by vigilance with his approval.