Naveen Patnaik is a liar and a sinner: Congress

Dubbing Naveen Patnaik dispensation in Orissa as a "government for industrialists" and a "sinner" for handing over lord Jagannath's land to Vedanta, Congress today accused it of misapporiating crores of central fund meant for the welfare of people.

A series of allegations were made against the ruling BJD and its chief Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneshwar at the "Maha Samabesh" organised by Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC).

"Patnaik is working for the interest of Vedanta and other industries and not for poor tribals, dalits and OBCs," union minister and AICC general secretary, V Narayan Sami told the rally.

Branding Patnaik as a "liar," he accused him of launching a false campaign against the UPA government at the Centre over grant of central fund to the state.

"Naveen is a Papi (sinner) as he handed over Lord Jagannath's land to a private company. It is by the blessings of the Lord that Orissa high court saved the land from being misutilised by Vedanta," Sami said.  The November-16 verdict by the high court had exposed the state government's sin", he said.

Other Congress leaders including OPCC President KP Singhdeo, former chief ministers Hemananda Biswal and Giridhar Gamang and party MP Pradip Kumar Majhi also flayed the government for giving Lord Jagannath's land to Anil Agarwal Foundadtion (AAF) for the proposed Vedanta University in Puri district.