Dharmendra slams Odisha govt for skipping Niti Aayog meet

Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today launched a scathing attack on the Odisha government for not participating in the two-day meet convened by the Niti Aayog in New Delhi from January 4.

Opposing the Centre’s move to appoint Odisha Cadre IAS officers as Prabhari (in-charge) officers in eight most backward districts of Odisha - Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, Dhenkanal and Bolangir - to address specific developmental needs, the State government had decided to give a miss to the event.

Accusing the ruling BJD of trying to politicise the matter, Pradhan, here at the party office on Sunday said the State government took the step without understanding the modus operandi behind the decision.

“Odisha’s Chief Secretary was approached by the Niti Aayog several times. He is an intellectual person, I don’t know who or what pressurised him to write that Odisha was not taken into confidence while appointing the Prabhari officers,” said the Union Minister.

“I request Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to review the decision. The Centre has not forced the decision on the State. The State has all rights to bring in changes in the proposal. Besides, the whole process will be carried out under the Chief Secretary

-  Pradhan

Niti Aayog’s proposal should not be seen as an interference of the Centre into the business of the State, he clarified, adding the Chief Minister should prove he is the best administrator through actions and not just words.

Meanwhile, reacting to Pradhan's allegations, BJD Spokesperson Pratap Deb said the State government has already appointed senior IAS officers for monitoring the developmental works in all the districts and hence there is no need to appoint more officers for the same job.

“It will only create confusion in the whole process,” he said.