Thaindian News

Bhubaneswar, Aug 9 (IANS) Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday accused the central government of neglecting his state, a charge the state’s main opposition Congress dismissed as “false”.

Addressing a party meeting in Cuttack, 26 km from here, Patnaik said the Congress-led central government had announced packages for different states, but neglected a poor state like Orissa.

“Orissa has been a victim of the discriminatory policy of the central government,” Patnaik said at the meeting organised by the youth wing of his ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

He also blamed the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for the increases in the prices of the essential commodities.

The BJD reiterated its demand for Special Category State (SCS) status for Orissa and sought 20 percent increase in royalties of different minerals resources from the state.

Patnaik said despite repeated requests by his government, the UPA government did not sanction any special economic package for the state.

“The union government, which is neck-deep in corruption, has been unabashedly exploiting the common people through its wrong economic policies that suit a microscopic section of the society,” he said.

Meanwhile, the state’s main opposition Congress staged demonstrations in several district headquarter towns, demanding the resignation of Patnaik for “falure” in all areas.

“The state government has received more funds from the United Progressive Alliance government then what it had received during the National Democratic Alliance government,” state congress president Niranjan Patnaik said.

“Naveen Patnaik is making false allegations to hide the misdeeds of his own government,” he said.