BJD government betrayed people of Odisha: Sitaram Yechury

Bhubaneswar: CPI(M) today sought a probe into the alleged loot of minerals in Odisha as detected by Justice M B Shah panel and said the people of the state felt betrayed by the 14 year BJD government.

"The people feel betrayed by the BJD government after 14 years," Yechury told reporters.

He said the CPI(M) was opposed to the manner in which mineral development took place in the state and implementation of the Posco project.

AFP

"We wanted value addition of minerals in the state so that the youth of Odisha will get employment and people in general got benefit from the income from the mining sector," he said.

Asked about the CPI(M)'s relationship with the BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik, Yechury said "we have no alliance with the BJD. We are fighting against BJD candidates."

He said that non-fulfilment of peoples' aspirations was one of the reasons why the CPI(M) did not enter into any understanding with the ruling BJD.

"There was an understanding with the BJD before entering into seat adjustment with the ruling party in 2009 elections.

However, none of the commitments were fulfilled. Instead, the opposite happened in Odisha," he said.

The CPI(M) this time decided to fight elections in alliance with Left parties. Last time in 2009, the CPI(M) had seat adjustment with the BJD. However, the party candidates did not win.

He said that the proposed non-BJP, non-Congress and secular front would emerge after the general elections.

"NDA, UPA, United Front and others were formed after the elections. This time also, the proposed front will emerge and form the government at the Centre after the 2014 polls."

Yechury said Left parties felt that the people were seeking relief from the existing economic policies which had formed two 'Amir Bharat' and 'Garib Bharat'.

"While there were only 30 billionaires in India in 2009, their number in 2014 increased to 53 while people are getting poorer," the CPI(M) leader said.

Asked whether Aam Aadmi Party would be part of the non-Congress secular front, Yechury said "that party is yet to make its stand clear on the alternative economic policies."

PTI