Congress holds dharna against price rise

BHUBANESWAR: Protesting price rise of essential commodities, members of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) on Saturday staged a dharna in front of the Raj Bhawan here with vegetables and domestic LPG cylinders.

The leaders criticised the BJP Government at the Centre and the BJD Government at the State for failing to control price rise that hit common men badly. Later a party delegation met Governor Dr SC Jamir and submitted a memorandum to him on the issue.

PCC president Jayadev Jena said the Modi Government has raised the prices of fuel and LPG which has resulted in the price rise of essential commodities which is now beyond the reach of the common man. There is nothing for Odisha in Modi Government’s railway budget and the union budget, he added.

Former PCC president Niranjan Patnaik, who was seen sitting next to Jena at the dharna site, said the general budget of Modi Government is disappointing; it has nothing for a poor State like Odisha, no provisions for irrigation, nothing for agriculture. Modi’s promise of special package for eastern region during his poll campaigns has not been reflected in his budget, he added.

The former PCC chief questioned why Naveen Government is now not alleging of Centre’s neglect and maintaining silence by writing mere letters which he is good at. It is his weak leadership which is responsible for the neglect of Odisha by the Centre, he added.

Meanwhile, the BJP and the BJD strongly criticised the Congress for taking the issue to the streets as it had created the economic mess which is leading to the price rise.