BJD has secret deal with BJP, alleges Congress

Bhubaneswar, May 7 (IANS): The Congress unit in Odisha on Thursday accused the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of striking a deal with the BJP to shield its leaders from any CBI probe over various scams.

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Odisha assembly Narasingh Mishra said even though the central government has de-linked eight vital schemes and squeezed central share in 33 schemes, the BJD was maintaining mysterious silence on the issue.

Mishra said the BJD government, which had making allegations of neglect against the erstwhile Congress-led UPA government, was not raising its voice against the central government even after the de-linking of the schemes that would affect the state severely.

“When the UPA was in power at centre, BJD leaders often took to the streets and burnt effigies making central neglect an issue even though the then government was granting sufficient assistance to the state. But there is no protest against the BJP,” said Mishra.

The Congress leader said the de-linking of central assistance in respect of eight schemes and changing in sharing pattern of 33 schemes would seriously affect the socio-economic sectors of the state.

Substantiating his allegations over the BJD’s deal with the BJP, Mishra said each time Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik visits Delhi, he holds secret meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Patnaik frequently visits Delhi to save BJD leaders from CBI probe in chit fund scam,” he added.