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Orissa : Congress cosying up to BJD ?

	February 28, 2005

Even as the Orissa Congress launched a state-wide programme to protest against the failures of the Navin Patnaik Government in the state, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has given a clean chit to the Chief Minister on the law and order situation. During his visit to Bhubaneshwar earlier this month, Patil praised the Chief Minister’s efforts in tackling the Naxalite problem. There were apprehensions earlier that the Centre would restrict the flow of central funds to Orissa. But the state’s annual plan of Rs.3000 crore was approved by the Planning Commission without any reduction while Finance Minister Chidambaram lauded the fiscal reforms undertaken by Navin Patnaik.