Congress Fact-Finding Team’s Press Meet
Kakatpur, 1/8, Tuesday:
A five-member fact-finding team, headed by senior Congress leader and former Chief Secretary Vijay Patnaik, visited the Edabansha Padhiari School under Talada Panchayat of Astaranga Block to assess the current situation. He was welcomed by members of the Congress units from Kakatpur and Astaranga. After visiting the school, Mr. Patnaik paid his respects at the Maa Mangala Temple in Kakatpur and held discussions with temple servitors regarding temple affairs.
The servitors — Philu Nana, Bhiku Nana, Mantu Nana, and Budha Nana — submitted a memorandum to Congress Kisan Cell President Amiya Kumar Patnaik demanding the formation of a permanent temple trust with the inclusion of servitors as members and for overall development of the temple.
Later, Mr. Patnaik held a press conference, where he alleged that construction work at 5T schools was carried out without proper tenders and was of poor quality. He further accused that BJD workers were being favored during the construction of all 5T schools in the state and claimed a major scam had taken place to fund election campaigns. According to him, crores of rupees belonging to the people of Odisha were misused in the process. He assured that the Congress party would take strong action against this in the coming days.
On the occasion, former MP Nakul Nayak, Congress Kisan Cell President Amiya Patnaik, Congress General Secretary Rashmirekha Mahapatra, PCC Vice President and Kakatpur Assembly Congress candidate Bishwabhushan Das, Congress leader Advocate Prafulla Kumar Nayak, and others joined the fact-finding team.
In addition, Vijay Patnaik criticized BJD’s political stance by stating that their support for BJP in Parliament on the no-confidence motion proves that BJD is no longer an opponent but an ally of BJP.
He also raised concerns over how the 5T Secretary was traveling across Odisha, announcing grants for various temples without transparency. Mr. Patnaik questioned how much money was being spent, how it was being spent, and who was benefiting. He alleged that 75% of the allocated funds were being handed over to outside contractors at inflated rates.
Other prominent attendees at the event included Kakatpur Block Congress President Avadhuta Swain, Astaranga Block Congress President Sukanta Kumar Mohanty, Kakatpur Panchayat President Nalinikanta Dixit, Jitendra Nayak, Bipin Mohanty, and youth leader Tapan Kandi.
