at Ganganagar
Bhubaneswar, Oct. 2: Politics took the centre stage as the BJD today launched its 10-day-long Jansampark Padyatra, renewing its tirade against the Centre while the BJP held a one-day satyagraha in all the 147 Assembly constituencies, seeking to corner the Naveen Patnaik government for its multiple failures.
Launching the party's padyatra from a city slum, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik trained guns at the Centre. "They have stopped providing assistance for several ongoing central-sponsored schemes. But, we will continue these programmes with our own resources. We will not allow the poor to suffer," he said.
Pictures by Ashwinee Pati and Sanjib Mukherjee
Naveen said his party would try its best to fulfil the promises made in its manifestos. "We will move on the path shown by Biju babu," said the chief minister, who offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on the Assembly premises before commencing the foot march.
After the padyatra, Naveen launched the digitised ration card under the National Food Security Act. His ministers also distributed the cards in the districts and also took part in the foot marches. The act was rolled out in 14 districts in the first phase. The beneficiaries will get food grains at subsidised prices through ration cards from November 1.
Congress activists showed the black flags to law minister Arun Sahoo while he was taking part in the foot march in Kalahandi. They were protesting against the state government's failure to take over the Sardar Rajas Medical College located at Jaring in the district.
The BJP's satyagraha focused on making people aware of the myths being propagated by the BJD. "They should tell people what they had received from the Centre during the UPA regime. They are using Gandhi Jayanti for political purposes," said BJP's senior leader Biswa Bhusan Hairchandan.
Taking part in the programme, BJP's state unit head K.V. Singh Deo said: "The party is highlighting the success of the Union government and failures of the state government."
However, the Congress, the main Opposition party in Odisha, deferred its padyatra programme, earlier planned from Gandhi Jayanti, till October 14. "The BJD is using the Gandhi Jayanti for politics," said Opposition leader Narasingha Mishra.
