BJP & BJD engage in war of words over Kotia issue 

Politics over Kotia panchayat in Koraput district has intensified with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders accusing the BJD government of neglecting the panchayat. 

The BJP legislators who visited Kotia on Utkal Dibasa addressed a press conference at the party office in Bhubaneswar today. The leaders took turns to launch their attacks on the government.  

They alleged that the Kotia people are willing to merge with Andhra Pradesh because the Odisha government has been neglecting them. 

“After our visit to Kotia, it seems to us that the government has been neglecting Kotia and not taking the issue seriously. In the Kotia border dispute, the government is only shedding crocodile tears and is doing nothing to find a solution to the problem,” alleged BJP MLA, Mukesh Mahaling.

In her response, Revenue Minister Pramila Mallik said, “I would like to request the Central Government to identify the border in presence of the governments of the two States.”

On the other hand, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajanna Dora targeted Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the latter's ‘Andhra Go Back’ remark. 

The AP Deputy CM demanded that the Union Minister should withdraw his statement. 
Meanwhile, the BJP stood by the Union Minister. 

“Andhra Pradesh is opposing Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s statement. And the ruling-BJD in Odisha is opposing the Union Minister. Opposing the Union Minister means they are opposing his statement ‘Andhra Go Back,’ said Suryavanshi Suraj, BJP MLA.

Ruling-BJD leader Pradeep Majhi alleged, “The Union Minister has no intention to solve the issue. Had he wished, he could have solved the issue by making the Home ministry interfere in the matter.”

(Reported by P Govindaraju Subudhi, Nabaghana Bisoi and Harihar Chand, OTV)