BERHAMPUR: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for making false claims of achievements.
Addressing a public gathering at Bikrampur on the outskirts of Berhampur on Thursday, he said both Modi and Naveen have failed miserably in fulfilling their promises made to people. Instead, they have created problems for the people, Harichandan said.
Claiming that the Congress is the only party working for the cause of people, the OPCC chief urged the gathering to support his party. He said the popularity of the BJD is just an eyewash and people have already realised this. “Today’s large gathering in this public meeting in Ganjam, represented by Naveen himself, has proved that Congress fort is very strong in the district,” he said.
Later, speaking to mediapersons in the city, the OPCC chief alleged that the State Government is controlled by ‘third floor’. He said law and order situation in the district has deteriorated and police are working as henchmen of the BJD. Harichandan alleged that the police and revenue officials in the district are threatening the Congress activists and implicating them in false cases.
“The Congress would seek shelter of the judiciary and human rights commission for the injustice meted out to its activists,” he said, adding that such acts by the BJD have only emboldened the Congress party. He said Congress would win the next panchayat election.
Replying to a query on groupism in the Congress, he said since it is a large party, differences of opinion are common. “But the party will fight the polls unitedly.”
He said the Congress is expected to fare well in the ensuing panchayat poll and slammed Naveen for his negligence towards Ganjam district. The OPCC chief alleged that promises of a rail wagon factory at Sitalapalli and Gopalpur-Rayagada railway line have turned into mirage.
Harichandan was accompanied by former minister Chandrashekhar Sahu, OPCC secretary Bikram Panda and party leaders Sandhyarani Mohapatra, Bhagaban Gantayat and Chintamani Dhyansamantara.