Bhubaneswar: In a glaring instance of step-motherly attitude, the Centre has ignored the repeated requests made by the Odisha government to release a special package of Rs 4,500 crore for Special Plan for backward Kalahandi, Balangir and Koraput (KBK) region. On the other hand, it has granted a package of Rs 21,614 crore to West Bengal, which included Rs 9,240 crore in grant in aid, to tide over its acute financial crisis. The Odisha government has spent all its energies in persuading the Planning Commission as well as the Centre to release a special package of Rs 4500 crore for KBK region since last three years Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has written half a dozen letters to the prime minister and deputy chairman of the Planning Commission urging them for the support. The state planning and coordination minister A U Singhdeo has approached Montek Singh Ahluwalia several times in this regard while BJD MP from Balangir Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo has also met the members of Planning Commission to impress them for the support time and again. But nothing has happened so far. The statement issued by Banerjee explains how the Trinamool Congress-led government could get the assistance. Though I am not fully satisfied, I congratulate the prime minister and the Union finance minister. I know they will have to follow rules, Banerjee said. Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee from West Bengal came to the rescue of the state government. It is not that Pranab Mukherjee helped Mamata as his party is in coalition with the Congress. The Union finance minister had arranged special funds for West Bengal when left front was in power also. Contrary to Pranab's inclination towards Bengal, a senior Congress leader from Odisha urged the prime minister not to grant funds under Special KBK Plan to the state as the BJD government misutilises public money.