Newly-formed political outfit Utkal Bharat on Friday accused the BJP of practising “double standards” with regard to establishment of the Posco steel project in Orissa. Party president Kharavel Swain, while addressing a press conference here, said the BJP was creating confusion about the Posco’s Rs 52,000 crore FDI proposal for gaining political mileage.
“When the BJP was itself a partner in the BJD-led state government in 2005, its leader Biswa Bhusan Harichandan was industry minister. It is during Mr Harichandan’s stint, the memorandum of understanding for the 12-million tonne steel plant was signed. Now that the party is out of power, it is opposing the project,” Mr Swain said.
He added that the BJP was attempting to misguide the public by feeding wrong information about the project. Mr Swain, a former BJP stalwart and close confidant of L.K. Advani, resigned from the party alleging corruption and nepotism practised by senior leaders.