DHENKANAL: THE BJP will contest the three-tier panchayat election in Odisha on the basis of Narendra Modi-led NDA Government’s welfare and development schemes, said Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan.
Addressing mediapersons on the sidelines of a function at Dhenkanal Autonomous College on Tuesday, Pradhan said, “We are least concerned about protest and political comments of the Opposition parties.”
In reply to questions from mediapersons, Pradhan took a dig at Dhenkanal MP Tathagat Satpathy, saying, “He is not raising problems of the people of Dhenkanal-Angul in Parliament.” Several problems related to agriculture and development in the district remain unattended, Pradhan added.
Addressing students of the college during the Students’ Union annual function, Pradhan said the recent MoU between Nalco and NTPC for Gajmara Power project and Smelter plant in Kamakshyanagar will facilitate an investment of ` 20,000 crore. This will not only generate employment opportunities but bring about economic development apart from development in education, transport and communication, he said, adding that the BJP-led Government has taken such initiatives for the people of Dhenkanal district.
Students Union president Harmohan Behera urged Pradhan to make efforts to convert Dhenkanal Autonomous College into a university. The college is in need of playground and hostel facilities.
Board of Secondary Education president Susant Kumar Das, college Principal Bijayalaxmi Acharya, former Rajya Sabha member Rudra Narayan Pany and former MLA Krushna Chandra Patra also spoke.