Bhubaneswar: Targeting the state government for gross irregularities in implementation of KALIA scheme, the state BJP Thursday demanded a probe by an independent agency to find out officials responsible for the gaffe.
Speaking to reporters here, state BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said, “The state government has implemented the KALIA scheme in hurry to win the 2019 elections and beneficiaries were selected as per the recommendation of local BJD leaders.”
Now, the government is scaring the farmers by asking them to return the assistance, he said.
“Instead of demanding KALIA money back from the ineligible beneficiaries, the amount Rs 170 crore should be recovered from the concerned minister and officials,” he stated.
“The agriculture minister is saying 3.41 lakh beneficiaries are ineligible while the department says the figure is only 32,000. Who is telling the truth,” the BJP leader asked.
Alleging more than 20 lakh ineligible persons have been covered under the KALIA scheme, Harichandan demanded a probe by an independent agency to dig out the facts. The saffron party also threatened to move to court and stage protest on the issue.
However, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said 99.4 per cent beneficiaries are eligible to avail benefits of the scheme. The BJP is making false allegations to again political mileage in the name of farmers.