Bhubaneswar, March 10. Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday criticized the Odisha government, accusing it of failing to act quickly to rescue Odia people stranded in West Asian countries amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war.
Expressing concern over the stranded Odia people, Naveen Patnaik wrote on his X handle that he could feel the fear and anxiety of Odias – from laborers to students, professionals, tourists, and travelers – trapped in the horrific war in the Middle East, as well as that of their families and loved ones in Odisha anxiously awaiting their return.
He further added that air routes are closed, flights are being cancelled, and borders are also shut. In such circumstances, it is the responsibility of the Odisha government to safely bring back all Odias, he said.
"However, the government's failure to show any urgency, to take swift steps, is only making their situation even more difficult. Why is the government remaining indifferent?" Patnaik questioned.
Targeting the state government, the BJD president further questioned, "Where is that boastful rhetoric about 'Odia pride' now, when it cannot stand firmly with the people of Odisha in this difficult time? The Odisha government, instead of making empty promises, should immediately take firm steps to safely bring back all Odias from the war zone. Swift and timely action will provide reassurance to every Odia and save many lives."
The former CM once again requested the Government of Odisha and the Government of India to take immediate steps to ensure their safe return to their homes in India. Patnaik had earlier also sought the intervention of the External Affairs Minister of India, S. Jaishankar, requesting him to make urgent arrangements for the rescue of the stranded Odias from the conflict zone.
The Odisha government has constituted a working group in coordination with Odisha Parivar Directorate, the Home Department of Odisha, the State Labour Directorate, and the office of the Protector of Emigrants (POE), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, to closely monitor the safety and condition of Odia migrant workers, professionals, and tourists present in the Gulf countries.
Pritish Panda, Officer on Special Duty, Directorate of Odisha Paribar, Odia Language Literature and Culture Department, is designated as a single point of contact to coordinate with the Odia diaspora.
Meanwhile, Odisha Panchayati Raj Minister Rabinarayan Naik on Tuesday said that the government is taking necessary steps to ensure the safety of the Odia people stranded in West Asian countries and monitoring the supply of LPG and the price of essential commodities.