By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 1, 2016 : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday one again blamed the Union Government for several of the troubles of the state saying that in a federal system, the central government should not forget the role to play in the development of the States.

The CM said he believed in federal spirit but it should not be considered as its weakness.

Raising the Polavaram and Mahanadi issues, Patnaik accused the Center for neglecting the state, Patnaik said, “The Center has a special duty to ensure progress of the states under federal structure. Delhi shouldn’t forget it. We believe in federal spirit, but no one should consider it our weakness. The people of the state want justice in Mahanadi and Polavaram issues.”

He was addressing the last phase of the ruling Biju Janata Dal’s Janasamparka Yatra in Central Bhubaneswar Assembly constituency on Tuesday.

Patnaik also highlighted the steps taken by the State government in Polavaram and Mahanadi water issues and demanded that the people of Odisha want justice in both the cases.

The Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] criticized the Chief Minister for the remark.

“They shouldn’t forget their duties and responsibilities for the state. Naveen Patnaik and Biju Janata Dal should work for the people. They are behaving like opposition parties even while in power. I guess they have started mental preparation for their role in opposition,” said senior BJP leader and union minister for tribal affairs, Jual Oram.

Similarly, Union Petroleum minister also criticized Naveen for his Central negligence jibe stating “Centre has not ignored Odisha, but the State government lacks ability to develop Odisha. The Odisha government’s stand on Mahanadi and Polavaram issue is not clear.”

Odisha BJP spokesperson, Sajjan Sharma said, “The CM in order to hide his own incompetence is making these false statements. Naveen Patnaik himself is the biggest roadblock in Odisha’s development. Who is responsible for the Japanese Encephalitis outbreak in Malkangiri and the plight of Dana Majhi? When these questions are now being raised by the people, the CM has only one voice which is a misleading one.”