OD-SURAT-PATNAIK

CM demands for direct flight, trains to Surat
    Bhubaneswar, Dec 16 (PTI) Chief Minister Naveen
Patnaik has demanded introduction of a direct flight and two
new daily trains between Odisha and Surat for the welfare of
over 7 lakh Odias who live in the textile city of Gujarat.
    In a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu
on November 15, Patnaik said a large number of Odia people,
who were engaged in trade and commerce in Surat, face hardship
as there was no direct air connectivity between Bhubaneswar
and Surat at present.
    The air connectivity between Bhubaneswar and Surat
would not only cater to the requirement of the people from
Odisha residing in Surat but also increase the tourist inflow
to both the places, Naveen wrote.
    The chief minister also wrote a separate letter to
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal urging him to introduce two new
daily trains between Berhampur city and Surat.
    Noting that more than seven lakh people from South
Odisha, especially from Ganjam district, are residing in
Surat, Patnaik said that there is no direct train service
between Berhampur and Surat.
    There are some trains originating and terminating at
other destinations of Odisha and Gujarat. However, these train
services are not only inconvenient but also inadequate to
cater to the requirement of people from Odisha residing in
Surat, the Chief Minister added.
    Patnaik has also written another letter to Gujarat
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani requesting him to provide one acre
of land in Surat for establishing a community centre to meet
the requirements of Odia people for their social celebrations.
    "The proposed complex shall also serve as a nerve
centre of cultural exchange between Odisha and Gujarat," he
said.
    The chief minister is slated to visit Surat on Monday
to attend 'Odiya Mahotsav being organised there by an
organisation run by Odia people in the textile city.
    Patnaik's visit to Surat and the letters shot off by
him are seen as a move to woo people of the Odia community,
mostly from his home turf of Ganjam, for Assembly and Lok
Sabha polls, slated early next year.
    People from Odisha are engaged in powerlooms, dyeing,
printing, diamond cutting and other spheres of trade, commerce
and industry.
    Opposition Congress and BJP lashed out at Patnaik for
his "sudden" plan to visit Surat accusing him of showing
concern for Odias living in the Gujarat city, in an attempt to
grab their votes.
    Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused
Naveen Patnaik of "shedding crocodile tears" for the people
from Odisha living in Surat and said the letters written by
the chief minister to the Union ministers and his Gujarat
counterpart are aimed at making electoral gain.
    During the last 19 years of his rule, the chief
minister never found time to visit Surat and learn about the
problems of Odias living here, the BJP leader said adding
Patnaik's sudden display of concern for the Odias in Surat
is aimed at getting their votes.
    By rejecting the Centre's Ayushman Bharat health
insurance scheme, the chief minister has already deprived
lakhs of Odias of the benefits of the programme, he said.
    Congress stalwart and leader of opposition Narasingha
Mishra claimed that the sudden show of love for Odias staying
in Surat ahead of the elections is part of a well thought plan
aimed at extracting electoral benefit.
    Reguting the allegations, senior BJD leader and Rajya
Sabha MP, P K Deb said the chief minister loves Odia people
and has been working for their welfare and benefit.
    He said opposition parties must refrain from giving
political colour to the positive move. PTI SKN
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