At a time when both the Congress and the BJP were criticising the Biju Janata Dal government in Odisha over scams relating to chit fund, allotment of land and houses and illegal mining, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday took a defensive stance claiming that his party’s success has caused tension among the two national parties.
Addressing a gathering of BJD leaders and workers on the occasion of the party’s 18th Foundation Day here, Mr. Patnaik said the national parties are demoralised. They were never with the people of Odisha and they will not be in future, he added.
Mr. Patnaik said Odisha is yet to receive its legitimate due under the federal structure. “The State has always been neglected by the Centre. There should not be any political consideration while allocating national resources.”
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Since Mr. Patnaik snapped his party’s ties with the BJP before the 2009 general elections, he has been blaming the Centre for neglecting Odisha in his attempt to build a regional sentiment to attract the people towards his party. He reiterated that the BJD would continue its fight for the rights of the four crore people in Odisha.
In his attempt to refurbish his party’s sullied image, Mr. Patnaik spoke in detail about his achievements during the past 14 years, and said his government is committed to fulfil the promises that the party made in its election manifesto earlier this year. While the State level meeting was addressed by Mr. Patnaik at the party’s headquarters in Bhubaneswar, the party leaders organised similar meetings in all the 32 organisational districts across the State during the day to mark the occasion.