BHUBANESWAR: Differences have cropped up in the State Congress over the visit of BJP national president Amit Shah to Odisha on July 1 with president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Niranjan Patnaik disapproving the decision of the youth wing of the party to oppose it.
“As the president of a national party, it is the duty and responsibility of Amit Shah to campaign for his party. Why should we oppose his visit to Odisha?” Patnaik told mediapersons here. When asked about the decision of the Odisha Pradesh Youth Congress (OPYC) to oppose Shah’s visit, the OPCC president said he does not know who has taken this decision and why.
Earlier, Youth Congress activists led by OPYC president Loknath Maharathi burnt a poster of Shah in front of the Congress Bhavan in protest against the national BJP president’s visit to Odisha. “Amit Shah who has been playing with the emotions of the people of Odisha is visiting the State frequently. We demand resolution of the Mahanadi issue at the earliest.
Besides, the BJP Government at the Centre has not fulfilled promises of providing jobs to two crore youths and bringing back black money to the country,” he said.
Reacting to the Youth Congress decision, senior BJP leader Pratap Chandra Sarangi said it will have no impact on Shah’s visit to the State. Shah is scheduled to visit Odisha on July 1 to review party affairs.