**Bhubaneswar: ** As Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has blocked the further disbursement of KALIA assistance to the beneficiary farmers acting on ruling BJD’s political bête noire BJP’s complaint citing violation of model code of conduct (MCC), BJD today came down heavily on the sudden stand taken by CEO.
BJD argues that KALIA is an ongoing process of the State Government much prior to the imposition of MCC.
Convening a press meet today, BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra burst, “It has come to our knowledge that Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has blocked the disbursement of KALIA assistance that was to be distributed to lakhs of beneficiary farmers. It’s extremely unfortunate. Plea is being taken that model code of conduct is in force and the disbursement of funds to the beneficiaries isn’t possible.”
Arguing, “All of us know that the formal administrative approval has been taken previously for KALIA assistance disbursement much prior to the upcoming elections. The list of the beneficiaries has also been prepared much earlier. The disbursement of the assistance had also been inititated much prior to the model code of conduct,” the BJD
spokesperson remarked, “CEO’s such a step all of a sudden is amazing and unfortunate.”
He alleged, “While on one hand, you (CEO, Odisha) are blocking the KALIA assistance disbursement, on the other hand, approval has been accorded to Centre’s PM-KISAN so that its financial assistance could reach the people in the State. What for this double dealing? It is clear that the CEO has buckled under the pressure of BJP for which he has green-signalled PM-KISAN, but least bothered about the lakhs of farmers to be benefited from beneficial KALIA Yojana. They will be deprived of their livelihood.”
The BJD spokesperson lashed, “Such a development highlights the anti-farmer stance of BJP. At least on this issue there shouldn’t be any cheap politics. The way BJP has stoopped to such a low and has hampered the benefits and interests of lakhs of farmers, election and politics reign high for BJP while it is anti-farmer. Hence, the people will never forgive and specially the families of lakhs of farmers of Odisha.”
“We still urge the CEO not to buckle under the pressure of BJP and resort to such an act. BJD will soon knock the doors of the Election Commission for re-consideration of our demand. While Rs 2000 disbursement of PM-KISAN being allowed, Rs 10,000 disbursement of KALIA is being blocked. What kind of justice is it? The general public will give the fitting reply,” he stated.
On the contrary, no counter reactions were available either from the BJP or Odisha CEO till the filing of this story despite efforts of this news organisation.
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