Congress slams Centre for not assisting cyclone-hit Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Oct 16: Accusing the BJP Government at the Centre of adopting a step-motherly approach towards Odisha, state Congress President Jaydev Jena today slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not announcing any assistance to the state hit by cyclone Hudhud.

"It is ironical that the prime minister announced Rs 1,000 crore for Andhra Pradesh, but nothing for Odisha though southern districts of the state were equally affected by the cyclone," Jena said here.

While Modi visited cyclone-hit areas of Andhra Pradesh and held a review at Visakhapatnam, he did not bother to tour any of the places in Odisha affected by Hudhud, he said claiming it showed the Centre was adopting a step-motherly approach towards Odisha.

"The prime minister neither visited any cyclone affected area of Odisha nor dis he announce assistance to the state for restoration and relief operation," Jena said.

The OPCC chief also hit out at the ruling BJD accusing it of failing to protest against the Centre's attitude towards the state. The Congress leader said BJD's silence on the matter was probably because of protection it sought to get in the CBI investigation into chit fund scam.

During UPA government at the Centre, BJD had been resorting to dharnas even without any valid reason, Jena said claiming that BJD leaders allegedly involved in chitfund scam were afraid of criticising the Centre.

Jena further claimed that proper assessment of the damage caused by the cyclone in Odisha could not be made in time as the ruling party in the state was concentrating on the by-poll for Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat. On the other hand, Andhra Pradesh was able to make an damage assessment in that state promptly and efficiently, he said.

PTI