Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Congress leaders that no injustice was done to the state as alleged by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Claiming that UPA government has all along been "supportive and sympathetic" towards Odisha, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today told Congress leaders that no injustice was done to the state as alleged by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The prime minister stated this during an interaction session with a selected group of party leaders at Congress Bhavan here, state Congress President Niranjan Patnaik apprised reporters.
"The Centre has never done any injustice to Odisha. Rather the UPA government is supportive to the state," another party leader P Harichandan said quoting the prime minister.
To party leaders' allegation against the Naveen Patnaik government in the state about misuse and diversion of central funds, the prime minister said he was aware of everything happening in the state.
"The prime minister advised party leaders to monitor proper implementation of certain flagship programmes like PMGSY, MGNRGA and others," he said adding that Dr Singh had assured to take proper action at appropriate time if allegations were proved.
Former minister Narashingha Mishra, who drew attention of the prime minister towards delay in granting permission by the law ministry for opening two circuit benches of the High Court, Dr Singh assured that he would take up the matter with the ministry, he said.
When the party leaders drew attention of the prime minister stating that the ruling BJD was taking mileage in absence of special grant for the poverty stricken KBK region, the PM said "The KBK issue is very much in my mind."
In a 7-page memorandum to the prime minister, OPCC demanded CBI probe into a series of scandals like mining scam, coal scam, Dal scam, land scam and alleged corruption in key central flagship programmes. The party also demanded extension of the CBI probe into MGNREGA to the entire state.
"We have also demanded formulation of a special central economic package for the tribal and Maoist prone districts of the state," said OPCC President Niranjan Patnaik.
The nine-point charter of demands made by OPCC included appointment of central monitoring committees to monitor implementation of Centre's flagship programmes, sanction of an IIM, an IIIT, a central Tribal university in a tribal district, establishment of permanent bench of Orissa High Court in western and southern parts of the state and enhance mining royalty.
"We have also demanded provision of higher allocation for railway network and timely completion of the projects," Harichandan said while describing the rail scenario in the state.
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