Min counters BJD on Kotia, party hits back

Bhubaneswar: Union education and skill development minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday took a jibe at the BJD-ruled state government on the Kotia issue and said the government should do its duty properly and safeguard the geographical boundaries of Odisha. He said there are signage boards in Telugu in about 15 km radius of the bordering area but local officials and political leaders are doing nothing. Pradhan said he had written numerous times to the chief ministers of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to resolve the issue mutually but not step has been taken.“There might be difference of opinions in politics but to safeguard the state, we all need to rise above and work together. The CM should think of this matter and act accordingly to secure the state’s geographical areas,” Dharmendra said.The BJD has hit back at Dharmendra. “Has he ever raised the Kotia issue with his party-led central government,” asked BJD Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra.Patra said Biswa Bhushan Harichandan, a senior leader of BJP was Governor of Andhra Pradesh for many years. During his tenure, did he even once raise the Kotia issue with him despite meeting him many times, Patra said.
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