Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the crucial 2024 elections, all three major political parties in Odisha have started playing politics by stating protest over different public issues. Not it seems ‘Season Of Protests’ has unveiled, pointed out a political observer.
The BJP Wednesday launched a two-day long protest before the offices of Tata Power in different places, while, countering BJP’s protest, the ruling BJD has staged demonstrations before Raj Bhawan over the steep rise in LPG cylinder price. The Congress said it will gherao GRIDCO office on June 19 to protest erratic power supply.
The BJP leaders and workers staged protests before the offices of Tata Power in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and other cities on Wednesday. The BJP will continue the protest on Thursday also.
“Due to climate change, there will be a rise in power consumption and the state government should have a vision to meet the requirement. If the state government claims that we are a surplus state in terms of power generation, where the electricity is going,” questioned BJP leader Nayan Mohanty.
Similarly, BJP General Gecretary Prithiviraj Harichandan said people are facing a lot of difficulties due to frequent power cuts as the government has no control over the power distribution system.
“We are holding the protest to raise the voice of the public against the government and Tata Power over frequent power cuts across Odisha. Besides, Tata Power should also face the public ire for the power disruptions,” he said.
On BJD’s counter protest, the BJP leader said, “By holding the LPG price hike protest, the ruling BJD proved that they are protecting Tata Power company and no one can raise fingers towards the company even though it exploits the people.”
BJD leaders and activists staged a protest against the rising prices of LPG in front of Raj Bhavan here on Wednesday. The Party also submitted a memorandum to the President of India through the Governor demanding immediate reduction in LPG prices.
BJD leader Srimayee Mishra said that the price of a domestic gas cylinder was Rs 410 in 2014 which has gone up now to Rs 1,130, which has been impacting household budgets significantly.
Similarly, the Ujwala scheme has become a dark scheme as the beneficiaries are unable to refill their cylinders. The poor women again return to wooden chulha. BJD will continue to protest the hike in gas prices if the Center does not reduce the price immediately, Mishra said.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Sarat Pattanayak alleged that both the BJD and BJP are in competition to harass people. One party is protesting power cuts while another is demonstrating over gas prices. Both BJD and BJP are cheating the people of Odisha, he said.
He alleged that the state government is exploiting the people with high power tariff and frequent disruptions in electricity supply. The Centre also exploited the people by raising the LPG price to such a high, it became a dream for the poor now, he said.
The Congress leader said that Rs 20,000 crore was allotted by centre and state for power infrastructure development in Odisha. However, a total amount, Rs 5,000 crore was given to Tata Power and no one knows about the rest Rs 15,000 crore, Pattanayak said.
The Congress leader demanded the state government to publish a white paper on the issue giving details about the amount provided and utilized for development of the power sector.
Mounting a scathing attack on the Naveen Patnaik government over frequent power outage across the state amid scorching heat, he said Congress party will gherao GRIDCO office on June 19 to protest erratic power supply and demand concrete steps to ensure uninterrupted electricity to the people.
Senior Congress leader, Panchanan Kanungo said, “Odisha should propose before OERC that electricity bill should be handed over to people on a single date.”
