Bhubaneswar: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das has urged the state government to prioritise the development of Kotia panchayat in Koraput district, safeguard the dignity and self-respect of its residents, and ensure that they receive adequate welfare benefits and essential public services. Holding the BJP-led “double-engine” government responsible for addressing the region’s challenges, he demanded a dedicated budget for Kotia’s development and referred to Article 371 of the Constitution while calling for focused investment in livelihoods, infrastructure and basic amenities.
During a visit to several villages in the Kotia region Tuesday, Das interacted with residents and heard their grievances concerning welfare schemes, pensions and access to government services. He called on the BJP-led state government to take concrete measures to improve living conditions and protect the interests of people in the strategically sensitive border region, which has remained at the centre of a long-standing territorial dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. “You came to power talking about Odia identity and pride. Now protect the self-respect of the people of Kotia,” Das said, urging the state government to translate its commitments into tangible benefits for residents. The OPCC president alleged that prolonged neglect by successive governments had contributed to the present situation in Kotia.
Das stressed that residents should not be left deprived of essential facilities and support. He urged the government to formulate measures that would ensure the region’s overall development and improve the quality of life of its people. Raising the territorial issue, Das urged the Andhra Pradesh government to immediately stop conducting panchayat elections in Kotia. He argued that Odisha already had elected representatives in the region, including a sarpanch and a zilla parishad member, and maintained that there was no justification for AP to claim the territory as its own.
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