Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 16, 2015 :

The Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] on Tuesday launched a tirade against the Naveen Patnaik government accusing it of failure to ensure development of tribal regions in Odisha.

Taking the lead, the union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram criticized the Odisha Government for its failure to spend financial assistance given by the Centre and accused it of diverting Central funds meant for tribal welfare to other causes.

“Odisha Government has failed to utilise the Rs 421 crore allocated by my government for various tribal welfare schemes during 2014-15. We have also noticed diversion of state funds meant for various tribal schemes for other purposes,” Oram told the national executive of BJP ST Morcha here on Tuesday. 

The union tribal minster disclosed that utilisation certificate for over Rs 186 crores of Central funds are still awaited.” During a recent review of the working of Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) in four areas, it was found that funds for 2011 were still lying unutilised,” he remarked.

Addressing the two-day national executive body meeting, president of BJP ST Morcha Faggan Singh Kulaste also lambasted the state government. “We are going to move a draft proposal against the Odisha Government protesting against the delayed delivery of land pattas to tribals, low selling price of forest goods and non-implementation of reservation rules applicable for tribals,” said Kulaste.

Making the party’s agenda in penetrating the tribal pockets in the state clear, Kulaste said, “We are here to share the achievements of Modi government with the people. The political presence of BJP in the state is a little weak now. We are going to work to strengthen it in coming days through the ST forum”.

The BJP has tried to demonstrate its pro-tribal policy by making the lone MP and tribal leader from Sundergarh, Jual Oram, a cabinet minister for second time and tribal leader, Draupadi Murmu as the Governor of Jharakhand.

Now that it has roped in former chief minister and Congress leader, Giridhar Gamang to its fold, the party hopes to comete both the Congress and BJD for crucial tribal voters in the state that has 33 reserved constituencies. Significantly, tribal voters play a key role in at least 25 of them.