Why Naveen Patnaik is outraged, asks Dharmendra Pradhan

ONI Bureau: As for the first time, CM Naveen Patnaik lost his cool and hit back at PM Modi over the latter’s corruption allegations against the Odisha Government, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took a dig at him asking why the CM is so outraged today.

“It’s something new for a person like Naveen Patnaik of cool and calm personality. So, there must be something that is worrying him. Why he is so angry and outraged? As the allegations have hurt his heart and soul, he is just trying to avenge with counter allegations against me,” said Pradhan.

While replying to CM Naveen Patnaik on his allegations about ‘Skill India’ scam, Dharmendra said, the Pune-based Maharashtra Academy of Engineering and Education Research (MAEER) that had bestowed ‘Adarsh Mukhyamantri’ award on Naveen Patnaik, is a prime accused in the case and strong action would be taken against him following a fair probe.

Dharmendra challenged Naveen to identify any Ujjwala beneficiary, visit his house along with him, sip tea and ask her whether she was benefited from the scheme or subjected to corruption. Over 5 crore women across India and 34 lakh in Odisha have been benefited from PM Ujjwala Yojana, he added.

“The Chief Minister himself talked about PC (Percentage Commission) culture in Odisha and asked his departments to stop it. Why it hurts him now when the PM speaks on this issue,” asked Dharmendra Pradhan.

“The PM has come from a poor family. He understands the problem of staying without a toilet. The CM can’t understand it. During the monthly review meeting, the PM had already asked the Chief Secretary and Kalahandi Collector to work with full sincerity on Swachh Bharat mission. Even today at the Airport, he reminded the Chief Secretary on the same. The PM is serious about the success of Swachh Bharat Mission. So, the CM should also take it seriously,” the Union Minister said.

On the issue of Ayushman Bharat scheme, Dharmendra questioned the effectiveness of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, saying when people from Odisha will go outside the state for treatment of critical ailments such as heart and cancer, they won’t get any benefits if they are not covered under the central scheme. He also asked while Rs 3,000 crore is required to cover 70 lakh families under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, why only Rs 290 crore have been allocated.

Dharmendra asked the Government to make public the list of verification report of the people who apply under the state government’s food security scheme via website. On the issue of rising fuel prices, he asked Odisha Government to follow footsteps of non-BJP states such as Karnataka and West Bengal and reduce the VAT so that people get immediate relief.