Bhubaneswar: A day after the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) challenged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a debate alleging gross negligence to Odisha in the Union Railway Budget 2021-22, the saffron party on Tuesday threw an open challenge at Naveen Patnaik-led government for a discussion over the same.
Speaking to the reporters during a press conference here, Odisha BJP general secretary Golak Mohapatra said, "We are ready for an open discussion."
Launching a scathing attack on the BJD, Mohapatra said, "If railway projects in Odisha are getting delayed, it is because of the State government's inefficiency. Land acquisition, law and order and forest clearance issues are posing difficulties in the progress of various railway projects in Odisha."
"As alleged by the ruling party, not Rs 14,000 crore, but Odisha has received Rs 36,000 crore in the last six to seven years which is a record," Mohapatra added.
Echoing similar voice, BJP's Lekhashree Samantsinghar said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been giving priority to Odisha and has always allocated sufficient funds. Odisha government must share details on how much funds it has received from the centre and how much has it spent on various projects.
"Rather thanking Modi government for allocating record share to the State in the historic budget, Odisha government is comparing his leadership with British rule. This kind of attitude by the BJD government is absolutely condemnable," said Samantsinghar.
Meanwhile reacting on the development, the ruling BJD said, may it be UPA or NDA government, both have shown step-motherly attitude towards Odisha.
"May it be UPA or NDA government, their attitude towards Odisha is same. Both have been neglecting the State," said BJD MLA Amar Satpathy.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)