Bhubaneswar
Senior BJD leader V K Pandian on Wednesday, criticized the Centre for taking the major benefits from Odisha’s rich mineral resources. He spoke in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on May 28, which claimed Odisha is wealthy in natural resources but its people remain poor, blaming Chief Minister Patnaik for the state’s condition.
Pandian acknowledged that Odisha is rich in minerals but argued that the Centre reaps the benefits, taking around Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 crore from coal mines and railways in Odisha, while only giving back Rs 4,000 crore. He accused the Centre of diverting attention from these issues by focusing on topics like the Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath Temple and disrespecting the CM.
He also claimed the Centre has delayed the revision of coal royalties for the last 10 years, causing Odisha to lose about Rs 10,000 crore annually. Despite bearing the pollution from coal mining, Odisha sees minimal benefits, he said.
Pandian criticized the BJP for failing to solve farmers’ issues, such as not doubling the MSP and income as promised in 2014. He noted that just before elections, the BJP promised an MSP of Rs 3,100 per quintal of paddy.
He also accused the BJP government of failing to control prices, raising fuel and cooking gas costs despite promises to lower essential commodity prices before the 2014 and 2019 elections. Pandian dismissed the impact of central leaders and state CMs campaigning for BJP candidates in Odisha.
