Blaming the Biju Janata Dal government headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for prevailing poverty despite abundant mineral resources in Odisha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said Bharatiya Janata Party will surely come to power in the State by next month as people would not spare the current regime for its ‘sin’.
Launching a no-hold-barred attack on the State government at a public meeting held in Berhampur, Mr. Modi asserted, “for the first time, double engine government is going to be in Odisha– one at Centre and another in the State. Mark my words, the coming June 4 will be expiry date for BJD government. On June 6, BJP will decide its new chief minister. Oath-taking ceremony of the new BJP government will take place on June 10.”
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“I extend invitation to all people to the oath-taking ceremony of next BJP government in Odisha,” said the PM amidst huge applause from the supporters.
“In Odisha, BJD’s sundown is imminent, Congress is fallen apart and people are assured of BJP, which has come with new aspiration,” he remarked.
“Congress has ruled Odisha for 50 years while BJD has been in power for the past 25 years. The State has huge water resources, fertile land, abundant mineral reserve and long coastline. Why have people of the rich Odisha remained poor? Who has committed the sin? The answer is the loot first by Congress and then BJD leaders,” Mr. Modi charged.
The PM went on, “the middle-rung leaders of BJD has become owners of big bungalows. Why do so many people resort to distress migration in CM’s own constituency? Why is majority of doctors’ posts lying vacant? Why do students drop out in middle of the schooling? There is no adequate cold storage facilities in Hinjili, CM’s Assembly constituency and no irrigation facility.”
“There is no shortage of fund in our Budget for Odisha’s development. The Manmohan Singh government had given ₹1 lakh crore to Odisha during its 10 years of rule. Our government has given ₹3.5 lakh crore in past 10 years. The BJD government either doesn’t implement welfare programmes belonging by Central government or appropriate the programmes as its own. And above all, it indulges in huge corruption,” he said.
“The BJD government implements Centre’s free-rice scheme in its own name. Why did they resort to treachery? Because they have not done anything,” said the PM.
He praised Odisha BJP for bringing out a ‘visionary’ manifesto keeping in mind the future of youths, health of elderly people and farmer.
“The BJP should get opportunity to serve people of Odisha. The State where BJP has got the opportunity to serve, the process of development picked up speed of unprecedented scale. Tripura was destroyed by 30-years of rule by Communist and Congress government. In 2018, people chose BJP and impressed by its performance, people again brought BJP government in Tripura. Uttar Pradesh and Assam are progressing at a rapid speed due to BJP governments in those States,” Mr. Modi observed.
