Amit Shah Urges Odia People To Oust BJD Govt For Development Of "Mineral-Rich Odisha''

The leaders joined the BJP in the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Deogarh is an assembly constituency under the Sambalpur Lok Sabha segment from which Pradhan and Das are in the poll fray now. 

The leaders who switched to the BJP today had joined the BJD today. They said they joined the saffron party after being inspired by the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sambalpur LS candidate Dharmendra Pradhan. 

Those who pledged all support to the BJP are Udit Nayak, Amulya Dharua, Santosh Kumar Majhi, Sasmita Bhoi and Sasmita Ekka. 

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While it will be the BJP chief's second visit to Odisha after the declaration of the election schedule, the PM is scheduled to come to the State twice, today being the first one, before the first phase of polling on May 13. 

According to the information, the Prime Minister will reach Bhubaneswar on Sunday evening and halt the night at Raj Bhawan. He would address massive rallies at Berhampur and Nabarangpur tomorrow.  

In his next visit, the Prime Minister will lead a massive roadshow in Bhubaneswar on May 10. He will address a large public meeting at Balangir on May 11.  The PM is expected to talk more about the protection of Odisha's self-identity, language, and culture which are, according to BJP leaders, under threat now. 

Prime Minister's planned visit to Odisha ahead of the first phase of polls in the State on 13 will boost the morale of the BJP workers and have a big influence on voters. A change in government in Odisha is imminent, according to many. 

Keeping in view the visit of the Prime Minister, the State police have tightened the security arrangements for him in the city. There will be tight security from the airport to the Raj Bhawan during evening hours as the PM will reach the airport at around 9.30 pm. SPG, CISF, and State police will be deployed for this purpose. 

Similarly, Nadda's two-day visit to the State will begin today. He is scheduled to release the election manifesto of the Odisha unit of the BJP at the State office at 3 pm here today. 

Besides releasing the manifesto, Nadda will hold talks with party workers of Bhubaneswar regarding the party's strategies for the ensuing Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. 

Later, Nadda will go to Cuttack and discuss matters relating to elections with party leaders and workers. 
It may be noted here that External Affairs Miniser Dr S Jaikshankar is now in the State. He addressed an intellectuals' meeting yesterday.  

Odisha will go to votes in four phases on May 13, 20, 25 and June 1.  
 

The need for closer collaboration for establishing disease-free zones for shrimps and prawns in India also came up for discussion at the first Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) in Canberra under the India-Australia Economic Co-operation and Trade Agreement (Ind-Aus ECTA), the ministry said.

Besides, the JCM meeting also addressed certain critical services issues, including the consideration of India's request for facilitation of cross-border e-payments and mutual recognition of qualifications in professions like nursing and dentistry.

India and Australia are looking at joint investments to build new supply chains underpinned by critical minerals processed in Australia that will help India's plans to lower emissions from its electricity network and become a global manufacturing hub, for electric vehicles and smartphones.

Critical minerals are a key raw material in these hi-tech products. Currently, China has a near-monopoly on critical minerals. India and Australia are both keen to set up a strong alternative supply chain to break China's dominance of the market.

"The two sides have decided to work closely on timely resolution of market access issues, deepen people-to-people contacts, and create an institutional mechanism for sharing of preferential import data," according to the ministry statement.

India and Australia have already signed an Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) that came into effect on December 29, 2022.

"Both sides while acknowledging the smooth implementation of the ECTA, briefly elaborated on ECTA implementation issues including MRAs (mutual recognition agreements) on organic products, market access issues related to products like okra, pomegranate, grapes, cottage cheese, .pharmaceutical pricing control in Australia particularly on generics, progress made by the working group on whisky and wine," the ministry said.

The meeting also touched upon the WTO issues wherein both sides appreciated the Commerce Secretary's stand on the importance of the support of Australia for early resolution of the long pending issue of a permanent solution to public stock holding (PSH).

Australia sought the support of India for the plurilateral arrangement for domestic support for services. Both sides agreed to discuss these matters intersessionally if required.

(IANS)

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