Congress to raise protest pitch

OPCC to launch stir against Centre and State Govt over several issues
OPCC president Prasad Harichandan (EPS)
OPCC president Prasad Harichandan (EPS)

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Sunday announced its decision to launch agitation against the Centre and State Government over several issues including largescale irregularities in implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) and doublespeak of both the Governments on Mahanadi river water dispute with Chhattisgarh. Announcing this at a news conference here, OPCC president Prasad Harichandan alleged that the State Government is fully responsible for construction activities of Chhattisgarh Government over Mahanadi river.

Harichandan alleged that the State Government was aware of construction of dams and barrages by Chhattisgarh Government since 2008.

The OPCC chief said though Chhattisgarh had invited Odisha Government for talks over the issue, the latter had avoided the meetings by showing different reasons.

Criticising the BJD for suddenly waking up to the crisis, Harichandan alleged that the ruling party is trying to divert attention of people from the failures of the Government because of the panchayat polls early next year.

Harichandan said the Chhattisgarh Government has constructed 500 large and small barrages and dams on Mahanadi river to provide water to industrial houses because of the laxity of Odisha for the last eight years. He alleged that the Centre has extended tacit support to Chhattisgarh Government over the issue.

The OPCC will launch agitation against both the Centre and the State Government over the issue in the second week of August from Sambalpur and extend it to other districts which depend on Mahanadi river in a phased manner, he said. Alleging largescale irregularities in implementation of NFSA, Harichandan announced a Statewide agitation against it from September 15.

The OPCC president alleged that because of the irregularities in distribution of ration cards under NFSA, the State Government has started harassing genuine beneficiaries including women and disabled persons by forcing them to return their cards and imposing fine on them.

Harichandan announced that the Congress will launch a padayatra in Kandhamal district from August 9 against the killing of five innocent dalits and tribals in police firing during an anti-Maoist operation. He said these issues including death of 19 children at Nagada in Jajpur district due to malnutrition were discussed at a meeting of senior leaders and district presidents of the party to finalise the future course of action.

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