Dharmendra Pradhan acting as Chhattisgarh 'spokesman' on Mahanadi: BJD

BHUBANESWAR: Ruling BJD in Odisha today accused Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan of playing the role of a "spokesman" for the Chhattisgarh government in the Mahanadi water dispute issue.

The BJD's statement against Pradhan came a day after the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas blamed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the Mahanadi water dispute with Chhattisgarh.

Pradhan had alleged that the state government's rejection of the Negotiation Committee formed by the Centre as the the Chief Minister's "double standards".

Criticising Pradhan, former minister and senior BJD spokesperson S N Patro said, "It is disheartening that being the son of soil, the Union Minister is talking against the interest of the state."

"The Chhattisgarh government has supported the Negotiation Committee which has been formed to help that state government. But it is unfortunate that he (Pradhan) is acting as a spokesperson of the neighbouring state and speaking in favour of the committee. If he (Pradhan) really means benefit of Odisha, he must ask the Chhattisgarh government to stop the ongoing construction works on the upstream of Mahanadi first," Patro said.

"I heard that his Rajya Sabha term is coming to an end in 2018. Probably because of this, he is supporting the Chhattisgarh government as he wants to be re-nominated to the Upper House," he alleged.

"I understand that BJP has invited Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh to campaign for the party in the ensuing panchayat elections. He must stop all works on the Mahanadi river and then campaign here, else the people of Odisha will oppose him," Patro said.