Naveen Patnaik participates in ongoing Jansampark Padayatra

Addressing a public meeting at the Patharbandh slum near Satsang Vihar on the eighth day of the BJD`s 10-day public relations campaign, Patnaik said that although the Central Government has a big role to play for development of the State, it has not shown any interest for it in last six years since it came to power.

Coming down heavily on the Centre`s stepmotherly attitude, he said, "The Centre is only shedding crocodile tears when it comes to saving the State against natural disasters like flood, drought and cyclone or promoting its interests. When it releases huge sums to other States at the time of natural calamities, it gives very negligible assistance to Odisha even if it faces disasters of greater dimensions."
Apart from the Chief Minister, MP Dr Prasanna Patsani , BJD MLAs Bhagirathi Badjena, Ashok Chandra Panda, Bijay Kumar Mohanty, Mayor Anant Narayan Jena and also graced the occasion among others.

During the padyatra, the ruling party members mobilized public opinion against the continuous negligence shown towards the state by the UPA government and highlighted the BJD government`s achievements.