Chief minister Naveen Patnaik speaks at the BJD’s state-level workshop on “Save Orissa” campaign in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 4: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is all set to step up its campaign against the Centre.

The confrontational mood was apparent at the party’s brainstorming session here today with chief minister Naveen Patnaik accusing the Centre of hatching a conspiracy against the state.

“The state has lost revenue worth Rs 70,000 crore in the past five years due to non-revision of royalty,” said Naveen.

The chief minister, who also made a reference to the Centre’s negligence towards the state in the fields of railways and funds to meet challenge of natural calamities, accused the UPA of shedding crocodile tears for tribals of the state.

Expressing concern over the impact the multipurpose Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh would have on the state, Naveen said his party would ensure that tribals in Malkangiri would not suffer because of the project. “We are keeping an eye on the progress of the project,” he said.

The meeting was preparatory to the launch of the BJD’s second phase campaign, beginning on November 9, to highlight the Centre’s step-motherly attitude towards the state which was facing a crisis on the industrial front.

“The campaign will continue till June 23 next year. We will highlight how the Centre has consistently been neglecting the state. Our campaign would not be limited to the Polavarm issue only,” senior party leader and Rajya Sabha member Pyari Mohan Mohapatra told The Telegraph.

Senior BJD leader Pyari Mohan Mohapatra

The leader said the party was also planning a panchayat-level campaign which would kick off from July 1 next year and conclude on December 26, the foundation day of the party.

The ruling party’s campaign follows the Union environment and forest ministry’s rap to the state on Posco and Vedanta.

Though the ministry’s recent showcause to the AP government on the Polavaram multipurpose project comes as some relief to state which has been opposing the dam, the state government continues to smart from the earlier blows.

“We are focusing on how the UPA has failed to deliver. The state gets only 45 paise out of Rs 100 of the royalty on each tonne of iron ore. Moreover, there is so much of drama going on over Polavaram,” said Mohapatra adding that the party would organise public meetings on these issues in all blocks.

The BJD leaders, who hope to sustain the tempo of their anti-Centre campaign till the next panchayat elections due in February 2012, do not appear unduly worried about preparations by the state Youth Congress to launch a padyatra (foot march) from November 14 to highlight the state’s alleged failure to utilise central funds and corruption in administrative machinery.

The padyatra would cover 2,000km in the state.

“Their padayatra does not bother us. We have the UPA clearly in our sights,” said a senior BJD leader.

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 4: The ruling Biju Janata Dal is all set to step up its campaign against the Centre.

The confrontationist mood was apparent at the party’s brainstorming session here today with chief minister Naveen Patnaik accusing the Centre of hatching a conspiracy against the state.

“The state has lost revenue worth Rs.70,000 crore in the last five years because of non-revision of royalty,” said Patnaik while addressing party leaders. The chief minister, who also made a pointed reference to the state’s neglect in the field of railways and funds to meet the challenge of natural calamities , accused the Congress-led UPA of shedding crocodile tears for the tribals of Orissa.

Expressing concern over the impact that the multi-purpose Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh would have on Orissa, Patnaik said issue, Patnaik said his party would ensure that the tribals in Malkangiri don’t suffer because of the project. “ We are keeping an eye on the progress of the project,” he said.

The meeting was preparatory to the launch of BJD’s second phase campaign beginning November 9 to highlight UPA government’s step-motherly attitude towards the state which is facing a crisis on the industrial front.

“ The campaign will continue till June 23 next year. We will highlight how the Centre has consistently been neglecting the state. Our campaign would not be limited to the Polavarm issue only,” senior party leader and Rajya Sabha member, Pyari Mohan Mohapatra told The Telegraph. The leader said the party was also planning a panchayat level campaign which would kick off from July 1 next year and conclude on December 26, the foundation day of the party.

The ruling party’s campaign follows union environment and forest ministry’s (MOEF) rap to the state government on POSCO and Vedanta. Though MOEF’s recent show cause to the Andhra Pradesh government on the Polavaram multi-purpose project comes as some relief to Orissa which has been opposing the dam, the state government continues the smart from the earlier blows.

“ We are focusing on how the Centre is neglecting the state and how the Congress-led UPA has failed to deliver. Orissa gets only 45 paise out of Rs.100 of royalty on each tonne of iron ore.Besides there is so much of drama going on over Polavaram, “ said Mohapatra adding that the party would organize public meetings on these issues in all the blocks.

The BJD leaders,who hope to sustain the tempo of their anti-Centre campaign till the next Panchayat elections due in February 2012, do not appear unduly worried about preparations by the state Youth Congress to launch a padyatra (foot march) from November 14 to highlight Naveen Patnaik government’s alleged failure to utilize central funds and corruption in the administrative machinery. The padyatra would cover 2000 kilometres in the state.

“Their padayatra does not bother us.We have UPA clearly in our sights,” said a senior BJD leader.