As rich tributes were paid to Biju Patnaik on his 101st birth anniversary of Sunday, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik criticised the Narendra Modi government at the Centre for stopping many welfare programmes ignoring the interests of the people living in tribal and backward regions of the State.
The State government, however, continues to implement those schemes using its own resources to safeguard the interest of the people, and would continue to do so, said Mr. Patnaik said while addressing a gathering at the Biju Janata Dal headquarters here.
Progress in many sectors
Whether one admits or not due to political reasons, but the State has achieved significant progress in various sectors since the BJD started ruling the State in 2000, said Mr. Patnaik. “There is a huge difference between Odisha of 2000 and today’s Odisha,” he said.
Besides faring better than the national average in infant mortality rate, Odisha has also seen infrastructure development, investment flow, growth in employment opportunities and increase in food production and people's income, said Mr. Patnaik.
Stating that the BJD has remained No. 1 in the recently held panchayat elections and will remain in the same position in future, Mr. Patnaik urged the gathering of party leaders and workers to stay in touch with the people.
Observing that BJD doesn’t believe in slogans, but in service, the Chief Minister called upon his party workers to continue on the path shown by Biju Patnaik to serve Odisha.
Birth centenary
Mr. Patnaik also attended a function organised at port town of Paradip to mark the closing of the year-long Biju Patnaik birth centenary celebrations. He also flagged off a mini-marathon in Bhubaneswar to mark the occasion.
The Chief Minister also highlighted his government’s achievements at a function organised to mark the celebration of the Panchayati Raj Day which is observed on the occasion Biju Patnaik’s birth anniversary every year.
