Congress to oppose CM's Malkangiri visit during Gurupriya bridge inauguration

Malkangiri: The Malkangiri district unit of Congress today said that it will oppose Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s visit to the district during inauguration of Gurupriya bridge.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) working president, Pradeep Majhi said the Chief Minister's visit will be opposed in the district until basic issues of the people are not addressed.

Demanding fulfilment of a five-point charter of demands, Majhi alleged the district administration of turning a blind eye to the issues of tribals.

He also stated the State government is not showing any urgency to find the Bonda student of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) in Bhubaneswar, who has been missing since 2015.

Members of the party’s district unit will stage a dharna in front of the Malkangiri Collectorate on July 9 pressing for fulfilment of various demands, said sources.

“For the past one year, we have been demanding school education for 2,000 tribal students and land pattas (RoR) to people residing in forest areas. But, no one is paying heed to the demands,” Majhi added.

Meanwhile, Malkangiri MLA Manas Madakami said, "The charges levelled by the Congress are baseless. As the Chief Minister is visiting the district to inaugurate Gurupriya bridge, they should have welcomed it. Instead, they are just playing a political game."