Odisha Govt hijacking Central schemes: Pradhan

Odisha Govt hijacking Central schemes: Pradhan

Odisha Govt hijacking Central schemes: Pradhan

Bhubaneswar: Dharmendra Pradhan, senior BJP leader and Union Education Minister, stepped up his attack on the Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha ahead of the Padampur Assembly bypoll on Wednesday, alleging that the state is hijacking Central initiatives and misleading the people.

Dharmendra alleged during a series of meetings to campaign for BJP candidate Pradip Purohit that the BJD government is hijacking Central initiatives because it is exhausted and unable to launch new beneficial programmes for the state's growth and people's welfare.

The senior BJP leader slammed the state administration for raising the interest-free loan limit for Mission Shakti women to Rs 5 lakh.

He accused the Naveen government of failing to deliver basic services to the people and said the BJD is trying to win the election with false promises, but the people will give the ruling party a fitting response for its failure over the last 22 years.

Dharmendra accused the state administration of lying about providing drinking water to every hamlet, claiming that women in the Bargarh area still have to go vast distances to get water from rivers and ponds.

Women SHGs receive interest waivers ranging from 7% to 11% from the Centre, while the State receives only 4%. The Chief Minister should be honest about what he has done to empower women during the last 22 years of his administration.

Dharmendra has been canvassing votes for Purohit in the Padampur Assembly constituency of Bargarh district since Tuesday in preparation for the December 5 by-election. On Thursday, he will also speak at several election meetings and hold roadshows.