Bhubaneswar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday alleged that in the name of a social service wing, the ruling-BJD is trying to 'loot' the State exchequer once again.
"Earlier when the BJD-led Odisha government failed to create employment opportunities for youths, it formed the Biju Yuva Vahini and created nuisance in villages. Now when the State government has no plans to stop that nuisance, it has formed the social service wing to once again spend money from the State exchequer," said Prithviraj Harichandan, general secretary of Odisha BJP.
He further said that public money is being misutlised by the BJD government to serve party interests.
Congress MLA Sura Routray said that money was given to BJD workers under the Biju Yuva Vahini yojana to work for the party. "Now, in the guise of a social service wing, it will again distribute money to unemployed men and women in the State," he alleged.
Responding to the allegations, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said the opposition parties used to criticise the Biju Yuva Vahini but people appreciated its work. "The youth wing of the party continues to work for people and in the coming days also, it will not deter from its motto," said Mohanty.
Like Biju Yuva Vahini, the new wing of the party will also work for the welfare of people, he added.
BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced formation of the social service wing of the party on the occasion of 150th Gandhi Jayanti in Bhubaneswar.