Koraput: Asserting that the Kotia cluster of villages under Pottangi block of Koraput district is an integral part of Odisha, Union minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan Saturday gave “Andhra Pradesh go back” slogan. Pradhan, who visited the disputed Kotia area to observe ‘Utkal Divas’, incidentally met an official of Andhra Pradesh at Phatu Senari village and enquired about the purpose of his visit. The official claimed that 21 villages of Kotia cluster come under the jurisdiction of AP and therefore, he was meeting people.
In reply, Pradhan who hails from Odisha told him to “go back”. During the Union education minister’s visit to Phatu Senari, a few policemen of the neighbouring state in civil dress were recording the event to which Pradhan raised objection and also asked them to “go back”. Stating that Kotia belongs to Odisha and no intrusion there will be tolerated, he raised the slogan ‘Bande Utkal Janani’ (Mother Odisha, I bow to thee). “Kotia is an integral part of Odisha and Andhra officials are illegally intruding inside our territory which is not acceptable in a federal structure.
Earlier, I had written to the chief minister of Andhra in this regard and will again raise the matter,” said Pradhan. Following Pradhan’s outburst on AP officials, BJP supporters accompanying the minister also raised “Andhra go back” slogans.
Later, the minister interacted with students and residents of Phatu Senari who raised the problems of the non-availability of mobile networks and banks in the area and the problems they are facing in availing houses under rural housing schemes of the government. While attending the Utkal Divas celebration programme at Kotia panchayat headquarters organised by the Kotia Gramya Samiti, the minister said Odisha was the first in the country to be formed a separate state on basis of language.
During his visit, Pradesh visited strawberry fields, tasted the fruit, and assured the farmers to set up juice processing units at the panchayat to enhance their economy. He also visited the Central University of Odisha (CUO) situated at Sunabeda and said that over 100 teaching faculties will be appointed in the varsity in the next six to seven months. The minister laid the foundation stone for a sports complex and inaugurated a workstation and language laboratory in the varsity. The ruling BJD too organised another Utkal Divas function at Ganjeipadar, about three kilometres away from Pradhan’s meeting venue. In both places, people took a pledge to protect Odisha’s boundary.