KalingaTV News Network
Bhubaneswar: Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh’s remarks holding the ruling party responsible for pest menace and claims that it did not pay heed to CRRI directives, has sparked a war of words among BJD and BJP leaders in the state.
Reacting to Singh’s remark, State Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout took a dig at the Central Government and insisted that ‘agriculture’ is a state subject and the Odisha Government is well aware of its constitutional duty. Claiming that the State Government is taking all possible steps for farmers’ benefit, Rout said the Central Government is not assisting it in the efforts and rather trying to run a parallel government which is dangerous for democracy and federalism.
Similarly, State Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty mocked at the Union Agriculture Minister’s announcement of a central agriculture team visit to Odisha to assess the pest attack situation on November 12. Mohanty said the Central Government is poking nose in all affairs of the state and it has become its minister’s habit to blame the State Government in every issue.
BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb dubbed the visit of the BJP minister and the central team to be a farce. He said no minister from the Centre has ever announced for any assistance to the state and the visit is purely a political gimmick.
However, the senior BJP leader in the state, Biswabhusan Harichandan sharply criticised the BJD leaders for their remarks and informed that the CRRI had issued specific directives to Odisha Government on the pest attack. He added, Rout’s claim that he had no information on CRRI directive is an irresponsible statement, nothing else.
Kalinga AI