Hitting out hard at the Naveen Patnaik government, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan described it as ‘corrupt and inefficient’.

In an effort to dispel the perception of the growing proximity between the BJD and BJP, Pradhan alleged that the BJD had, due to its own compulsions, supported the centre on certain issues.

When pointed out that CM Naveen Patnaik had been very supportive in terms of voting in certain instances in parliament and perhaps more importantly not spoken a word on the Rafale deal, Pradhan said all these were their ( BJDs ) own compulsions and rank ‘opportunism. Pradhan who was replying to questions at the literary festival organised by an English daily newspaper here, went on to list out – Adhaar, demonetisation, Swaccha Bharat campaign, road and railway projects that are held up etc are instances of how the BJD government has not been supportive of the centre.

Interestingly, he revealed that when the PM Narendra Modi was at Talcher recently, there was an attempt to start work on the NTPC – TTPS power plant but it was stalled by the state government. “I spoke to the chief secretary and his shocking reply was that Odisha has surplus power. I even said the CM can be with the PM for the foundation stone laying event, noted Pradhan while underlining his charge of the state not cooperating with the centre.” Pradhan said.

Pradhan, who was clearly focussed on getting rid of the growing perception of a discreet understanding between the BJD and BJP, also pointed out that the BJD had voted for the presidential nominee who was a tall dalit leader but had voted against the vice president candidate.

The BJD ran away without discussing in parliament during the no-trust motion because of its own problems, he charged.

The Union Minister asserted that the BJD government in Odisha had failed in all sectors and provided figures of unspent funds.

He alleged that Naveen Patnaik has never really fought corruption. He poses to do so, but even when he took action against partymen or ministers in the past, he has always reinducted them, charged Pradhan.“ The BJP will return to power at the centre and in Odisha it will form the government”, he claimed.

Asked to comment on the charge that he was in Odisha every alternative day and was interfering in state matters disrupting the spirit of federalism, Pradhan tersely said shouldn’t I raise my voice in the interest of the people when roads are not laid or projects are held up.

To a question on the allegation of scam in the Ujjawala scheme and the agency in Rajnagar being pulled up, Pradhan interestingly said that prompt action had been taken against the agency by IOCL but the state enforcement had also failed in its duty as it is a essential commodity.

Responding to a volley of questions on the fuel prices, Pradhan said the centre was working on several fronts to deal with the international challenges.

Answering a question on why duties were high even when crude prices had plunged, Pradhan claimed that fifty per cent of the benefit during those days had been passed on to consumers while the rest was spent for pro-poor schemes. The expenditure on welfare measures has increased three fold, he said.

Does this mean that Vikas done till date was on oil money, was the next question to which Pradhan quickly tried to amend saying revenue from other sources had also contributed to the welfare schemes.

Pradhan took a pot shot at the CM when he was asked on responsibility of politicians in promoting Odia literature – please reserve this question for the evening, he quipped ( implicitly referring to the fact that the CM was the attend the function in the evening and his lack of knowledge of Odia language and literature).