Bhubaneswar: The BJD and the BJP on Saturday made claims and counter claims about their contribution to Odisha's development.

Union minister for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan came out with figures showing how the BJP-led NDA government had contributed to the development of Odisha. Pradhan reacted in the wake of the BJD's accusation that he was misleading people by presenting false figures on various platforms.

Pradhan said: "I will make the BJD leaders understand the BJP's contribution if they come to me for discussion. But before coming, they should take the permission from their higher authorities."

He said he would treat them with tea if they came. Pradhan also termed BJD leaders parrots and said they are saying what they have been taught by the higher authorities, indicating the chief minister's office. He described the power centre of the CM's office as Kalapahad, an invader who had attacked and plundered temples of the state.

Reacting to it, BJD spokesperson Sanjay Das Burma said: "Being a Union minister, Pradhan should behave in a more responsible way. We had posed five questions to him and expect him to reply to them. He is trying to divert attention from the issue."

"They had got an answer from people in 2014 elections and people will give them a befitting reply in the coming days again," he said.

On Friday, the BJD wanted to know from Pradhan the BJP's stand on the issue of granting special category state status to Odisha. The regional party also wanted to know when the Prime minister would give an appointment to the House committee of the Odisha Assembly on the issue of minimum support price. Third, why Odisha was not included in the industrial corridor despite being a mineral rich state and fourth, whether Pradhan would advice the Chhattisgarh chief minister not to indulge in illegal construction on the Mahanadi upstream. The final question concerned the rising fuel peice.

BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said: " We are ready for an open debate with Pradhan."