Balangir: Senior BJP leader and Patnagarh MLA Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo came down heavily on the Naveen Patnaik government during a gherao of the district collectorate here on Saturday.

Singhdeo alleged that the government had failed in all fronts and development had taken a backseat in Balangir. "Seventeen years of misrule has landed Balangir in the bottom of all districts in Odisha. It is time we fought for our rights," he said.

The former minister said after the Narendra Modi government came to power at the Centre, there was an increase in aid to Odisha. "Though there is no dearth of aid to Odisha, the state government can't utilise it properly," he alleged.

Rajya Krushaka Morcha president Shivaji Mohanty raised the issue of pest attacks and misery of farmers.

He said: "It is deplorable that the ruling BJD government has not yet sent the report on crop loss due to drought and pest attack. This shows its attitude towards farmers in the state."

Senior BJP leader and spokesperson Prabhas Panigrahi and district Yuva Morcha president Ajaya Bali also spoke at the protest.

The BJP leaders also submitted a memorandum containing a 10-point charter of demands to the governor through the collector.