Bhubaneswar: The Naveen Patnaik-led BJD
government in Orissa came under fire from Congress leader
Rahul Gandhi on Thursday for 'not implementing' centrally funded
schemes and corruption.
"It is not a problem of central funds which are
abundant. The problem basically relates to corruption and
non-implementation of centrally-funded schemes," the AICC
General Secretary told reporters here before wrapping up his
two-day visit to the state.
Gandhi alleged that though Rs 35,000 crore was
provided by the Centre to Orissa, the funds were not utilised
properly as the BJD government failed to implement various
schemes and programmes.
Describing the rural job scheme MGNREGA as a dynamic
and powerful tool for the uplift of the poor, Gandhi claimed
that the Orissa government had failed to properly implement
it.
He claimed that during his visit to some places in the
state he found that many women were unaware of MGNREGA.
Speaking about the membership drive by the Youth
Congress, he said youths were joining it in large numbers.
Gandhi also claimed that the Congress could return to
power in the state.
"I am confident that the Congress can come to power in
Orissa," he said.
The Congress had been in power in the state between
1995 and 2000. The next assembly elections are due in 2014.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, July 14, 2011, 15:30