LIVE TV
Odisha
Recommended Stories
Bhubaneswar: A day after the ruling-BJD termed Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s claim on assistance provided by Centre to Odisha as ‘misleading’, the latter targeted the State Government stating that the Third Floor is under the control of Kala Pahada (Kala Pahada or Black Mountain is a historical character who invaded Odisha and tried to set the idols of the Holy Trinity on fire).
“A few people are treating the Third Floor (the third floor of state secretariat) as their private property. The Third Floor is now being controlled by 'Kala Pahada'. BJD leaders speak only those things in front of media what they have been trained on by Kala Pahada,” said Pradhan.
Addressing a public meeting, Pradhan said the file pertaining to the Centre’s final approval for construction of 2,500 km out of 5,500 km national highways under the coastal highway project in the state is still pending with the Chief Minister.
Pradhan said 62-63 lakhs people have been provided with LPG connections under Ujjwala Yojana while 40,000 households have got electricity. Besides, Rs 20,000 crore has been allocated to the State in the Rail Budget, he added.
The Union Minister challenged CM Naveen that he would apologise if the information is false and dared him to speak truthfully about the Central assistance to the State under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
Taking a dig at senior BJD leaders like Pratap Deb and Arun Sahu, Pradhan said them to take permission from the ‘Third Floor’ and come to his house, where he will share each and every detail on the Central assistance to Odisha.
Reply to Pradhan's allegations, BJD's Arun Sahoo said "Kala Pahada was from Odisha who went outside then returned to torment the State. There is a proverb which says Kala Pahada came, broke the iron gates and drank Mahanadi Water. In fact, the persons who are responsible for the drying up of Mahanadi are actually Kala Pahada.
Similarly Pratap Deb said, “There is no need for permission for a discussion with BJP or the Union Minister. Instead of his private residence, the discussion can be held in the open. I accept his challenge for a discussion on the matter.”
