By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Wednesday blamed the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s government for the communal violence in Orissa last year.
“Clashes took place in the name of religion in Kandhamal and elsewhere and the state government was responsible for spreading disharmony and hatred,” Gandhi told an election rally in Kendrapada town, about 100 km from here.
Campaigning for the Congress’ Lok Sabha candidate Ranjib Biswal, Gandhi said Orissa was an isle of peace when the Congress was in power in the state.
Alleging that the state government had failed to ease the troubles of tribals, farmers and downtrodden, he said: “I have travelled many states but Orissa happens to be the poorest of all.”
“Dalits and tribals are the worst hit in this poverty stricken state,” he said, as he criticised the state government for giving away mines to some industrialists at throwaway prices, ignoring the interests of the poor.
Terming the Congress as a “friend of Dalit, poor and tribals”, he also highlighted several steps the central government has taken for their welfare.
He said the UPA government pumped in huge funds but the state government could not utilise them properly.