By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi writes to BJD President and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik over the long-pending inter-State boundary dispute involving the Kotia group of villages in Koraput district.
CM Majhi stated that Kotia has been an integral part of Odisha since the state’s formation in 1936 and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the state’s territorial interests. He urged Naveen Patnaik to adopt a constructive approach to resolving the sensitive issue for the government’s consideration.
Sources said, because everyone knows that Naveen Patnaik has only played politics over the Mahanadi, Saraikela-Kharsawan, and Kotia issues, but could never find a solution in 24 years.
The Chief Minister, who is advising Naveen Babu to be ‘constructive,’ why doesn’t he himself have the courage to call an all-party meeting on the Kotia dispute?, sources said.
CM Majhi said ” Since the formation of the separate province in 1936, Koraput’s Kotia cluster of villages has been an inseparable part of our Odisha. There will be no compromise of any kind in safeguarding the state’s geographical integrity and the legitimate interests of the general public. Our government is not limiting itself to just the legal battle; under the chairmanship of the Revenue Minister, a high-level committee has been formed and is continuously working for the comprehensive development of Kotia’s social, economic, and basic infrastructure,” .
“In the context of Kotia, I placed a response to the letter from the Hon’ble Leader of the Opposition, Shri Naveen Patnaik. Instead of turning this long-standing sensitive inter-state issue into a political gain, it is appropriate for all to exercise restraint, a sense of responsibility, and respect for the judicial process. For the interest of the state, instead of mere political rhetoric, if constitutional and constructive proposals come forward, the government will certainly consider them with sincerity. Kotia has been an inseparable part of Odisha since the formation of the separate province in 1936,” he said
‘There will be no compromise on safeguarding the state’s territorial integrity and the legitimate interests of its people. Our Government is pursuing the legal battle while ensuring Kotia’s holistic development through a high-level committee led by the Revenue Minister. In my response to the Hon’ble Leader of Opposition Shri Naveen Patnaik ‘s letter, I emphasised that this sensitive inter-state issue demands restraint, responsibility and respect for the judicial process, not political rhetoric. Constructive, constitutional proposals in Odisha’s interest will always receive sincere consideration,” he added.
