Congress seeks white paper

BHUBANESWAR: Even as the State Government termed the Union Home Ministry’s letter about increasing activities of the Maoists in the State as incorrect, the OPCC on Saturday demanded a White Paper in this regard. Former minister and senior leader of the Congress Narasingh Mishra said the State Government should release a White Paper  detailing the socio-economic development in the Maoist-affected areas of the State. The State Government should also inform the people about how much money it received from the Centre during the last 12 years and how much it spent, he said. The White Paper should have information regarding the funds utilised for creation of permanent infrastructure in the backward and tribal areas of the State which have now become the hotbed of Maoist activities, he said. Stating that the Centre had rightly accused the State Government of non-utilisation and misuse of funds, Mishra cited a letter written by the BDO, Agalpur, to the district collector, Balangir, to support it. The former minister said the Agalpur BDO had alleged in his letter that he had received threats from nominees of MPs and MLAs of the district relating to execution of work under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP). Mishra wanted to know what action has the State Government taken on the letter. The IAP is funded by the Centre for implementation of development programmes in the Maoist-affected districts. Mishra alleged that the letter proved to what extent money, provided by the Centre for socio-economic development of the Maoist-affected areas, was misutilised for political purpose by the ruling party politicians. In view of the growing activities of the Left-wing extremists (LWEs) in the State, the Centre had advised the State Government to rework its anti-Maoist campaign. Abduction of two Italian nationals and a BJD legislator from Laxmipur Jhina Hikaka had raised questions about the success of the anti-Maoist campaign in the State. Maoists had abducted the then Malkangiri collector R Vineel Krishna last year. The Red rebels have now spread their base to 19 out of the 30 districts in the State from two in 2000.