BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister of State for Rural Development Ram Kripal Yadav, who kicked off a storm over State Government not providing him security, today maintained that people of Odisha want a change and the panchayat polls will be a trailer.
Yadav, who arrived here on Thursday on a two-day visit to the State to campaign for BJP candidates, lambasted the state government for its failure in all fronts during the last 17 years. He targeted the Odisha government for failing to implement various centrally sponsored schemes in the state.
He sought clarification from the Odisha government on the central assistance released for different welfare schemes and accused the ruling BJD of 'looting' public money. "Every gram panchayat gets a direct financial assistance of Rs 422 per head each year for carrying out developmental work. The chief minister should clarify where the money has been spent," Yadav told media persons here.
Even though the Centre has enhanced budgetary allocations under different schemes including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act (MGNRGA) and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Odisha government has failed to spend funds, he said.
Criticising the BJD government for launching central schemes as state schemes, Yadav wanted to know how many houses have been constructed under Indira Awas Yojana and Biju Awas Yojana.
Yadav said though the state government was supposed to construct 2.96 lakh houses under IAY, only 21 per cent of the target had been achieved.
"The state government has been misleading the people on the number of houses built under Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana (BPGY). The state should clarify how much money has been allocated for the BPGY and how many houses have been built so far," Yadav said.
"Either, the contractors are workers of BJD who are agents of the state government or there is a nexus between them. The matter should be brought under the purview of an investigation," he said.
Referring to the controversy over his security, the Union Minister said, "I had a feeling that the BJD Government harasses its opponents who point out its drawbacks."
"The State Government provided me security four hours after I raised the issue," he said.