Bhubaneswar: A day after chief minister Naveen Patnaik met the representatives of at least 16 organisations, including two Left parties, and discussed the sensitive issue of Mahanadi water dispute with neighbouring Chhattisgarh, BJP on Thursday lambasted the CM’s move.
Criticising Patnaik’s decision of seeking suggestions from various people to resolve the issue, BJP state president Basant Panda said, “The ruling BJD government has no interest to resolve the issue. It is political pressure that has made the chief minister to seek suggestions of various persons.”
“The chief minister should present all the information about the Mahanadi controversy before seeking public opinion; otherwise his decision will be like beating the bush,” Panda added.
“While the department secretaries had said they have no information about the projects that are being carried by the Chhattisgarh government on Mahanadi, the chief minister had presented all the facts about the projects at the state Assembly which is really confusing. So the state government should present a clear picture on the issue,” Panda stated.
Reacting on the allegation made by the BJP state president, BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said, “The BJP is yet to understand that the ruling BJD government is trying to protect the interest of the state and is fully prepared for the tripartite meeting to be held in New Delhi.”
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“There was time when we had not much information. But now we have prepared an agenda about what to discuss in the meeting. The chief minister has asked the opinion of various political parties as well as individuals so that we will not skip a single point,” Deb informed.
“If BJP is alleging the move of the chief minister is a political gimmick then I would to ask the BJP that whether it has cleared its official stand yet or not?” Deb questioned.