Bhubaneswar: Senior ruling party leader, Damodar Rout today expressed his displeasure for being sidelined by the party and not getting an opportunity to speak on Mahanadi water dispute in the Odisha Assembly.
"I asked Prasanna Acharya today morning why I am not being invited during discussions on Mahanadi and was not allowed to speak on the issue during the four-hour-long debate in Odisha Assembly," said Rout while lambasting the State government for its inaction on the issue.
"Our government is not being able to give proper attention to the resources as compared to other states. I know the people who draft schemes in our State have not seen Odisha properly," he added.
Rout further warned that there is a great threat looming over Mahanadi and the situation may worsen if immediate action is not taken.
"Is the campaign against Chhattisgarh enough to deal with the threat that Mahanadi is likely to face in future? We should be alert and take immediate and appropriate action. I am not saying it because of any personal grudge against anybody, but it is a fact. I have 45 years of political experience," he said.
He also revealed his indignation for not being invited by the Chief Minister during the review of his assembly constituency.
According to sources, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday during the review of Paradeep Assembly Constituency had not called Rout, who is the local MLA; but invited his son.
"I was not invited by the Chief Minister therefore I did not attend the meeting. Can the son of a MLA be his representative? My son has joined the party as a member but how can he tell about all the issues," said Rout.