Even as the State prepares to face cyclone PHAILIN, political parties have started bickering over the situation with the Congress criticising Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for not convening an all-party meeting to take stock of the situation.
Propaganda of the State Government on the cyclone led to panic reaction from the people as a result of which unscrupulous traders have taken advantage of the situation, said media cell chairman of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Narsingh Mishra. Mishra said the Government has not taken precautionary measures to tackle the situation for which essential items like onion, potato, kerosene, candle and flattened rice have vanished from the market. Though the Government was aware of the cyclone, no step was taken to seek the cooperation from other political parties, he said.
The former minister said Congress has constituted a disaster management committee and opened a control room to undertake relief, rescue and rehabilitation activities.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, State president of the Samajwadi Party Rabi Behera has requested him to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the rescue and relief operations.