BJP campaigns in Odisha over BJD's food security act 'hijack'

The BJP's Odisha unit on Sunday launched a poster campaign against the BJD-led state government for "hijacking" the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in the state.

State BJP president Basant Panda launched the poster campaign in the state capital, asking party workers to reach out to the grassroots to highlight the contribution of the Narendra Modi government in the NFSA.

"According to the Act, the Centre buys rice at Rs.30.38 per kg and is contributing Rs.27.38 for its distribution among the poor people. The Odisha government is chipping in with just Rs.2 per kg to provide rice at Re.1 per kg under the scheme," said Panda.

The Biju Janata Dal government was now trying to "hijack" the scheme and branding it as a state scheme, he added.

The BJP state president said the party would reach out to all villages through its 40 lakh primary members to expose the real face of the state government.

Accusing the ruling party leaders and "influential people" of usurping the NFSA's benefits, he demanded that the government abandon this flawed beneficiary list and prepare a fresh list where not a single eligible beneficiary family is left out.

He said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should come out clean and arrest those "influential people" who have availed benefits meant for the poor.

Reacting to the allegations, BJD spokesperson Amar Satpathy said the central government was providing funds as part of the federal system, while it should bear the complete cost of the cheap rice scheme.