The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the ruling “Double Engine Government” in Odisha, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of fabricating allegations over the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Fund to distract the public from the ongoing MMDR Amendment controversy.
Addressing a press conference at Sankha Bhawan, BJD Senior General Secretary Dr. Lekhashree Samantasinghar strongly dismissed BJP’s claims that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report highlighted corruption worth ₹26,000 crore in the DMF Fund during the previous BJD tenure.
Terming the statement completely false, Dr. Samantasinghar urged BJP spokespersons to thoroughly read the CAG report before making baseless allegations. She clarified that out of the total ₹26,000 crore collected under the DMF Fund, only ₹10,000 crore had been spent as of March 2024, leaving ₹16,000 crore intact in the repository. “When only ₹10,000 crore was spent, how could ₹26,000 crore be misappropriated?” she questioned.
Dr. Samantasinghar emphasized that the DMF Fund is directly monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office and managed locally by District Collectors. She noted that alleging widespread corruption in the fund indirectly implicates the central administration itself. She defended the previous government’s usage of the fund, stating that resources were channeled into critical public welfare sectors, including healthcare, drinking water, COVID-19 emergency management, sanitation, electricity, and education. Notably, former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik utilized DMF resources to build India’s first COVID hospital in Keonjhar district.
The BJD leader asserted that the BJP is resorting to the “politics of lies” because it lacks the courage to address public dissatisfaction regarding the MMDR Amendment, which she claimed takes away Odisha’s economic rights to benefit mine owners and corporate interests. Reaffirming her party’s stance, she declared that the BJD would continue fighting until the people of Odisha secure their rightful economic demands and rights.
