Bhubaneswar, Oct 22: Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Bhakta Charan Das on Thursday criticised the Odisha government over the ongoing Kotia dispute, questioning its approach towards resolving the long-standing issue.

Das called for an immediate solution through dialogue rather than allowing the case to remain pending in the Supreme Court for an extended period.

He said that the Odisha government and Andhra Pradesh government could resolve the Kotia issue through mutual discussions, particularly when the BJP is in power at the Centre.

He stressed the need for immediate political and administrative intervention instead of relying solely on legal proceedings.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the state government's efforts, Das said that measures such as forming special committees, holding meetings among officials and preparing reports had failed to deliver a concrete solution.

He questioned the effectiveness of these initiatives and criticised the government's alleged inaction on such an important issue.

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The PCC president also accused the Odisha government of adopting a weak approach towards Andhra Pradesh in the Kotia dispute. He asserted that the state government must take firm and decisive steps to protect Odisha's interests and territorial integrity.

Das also raised questions about the state government's ability to handle the sensitive issue.