Shah Addresses State As "Mere" Odisha, Digs At BJD Govt For "Growth Failure"

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Union Minister and senior BJP Leader Amit Shah on Thursday severely criticized the Naveen Patnaik government for not doing any developmental work despite being in power for 25 years.

Bhubaneswar, Apr 25: Union Minister and senior BJP Leader Amit Shah on Thursday severely criticized the Naveen Patnaik government for not doing any developmental work despite being in power for 25 years.

"This government has failed to glorify Odia literature, language, culture, and religion. It has failed to provide jobs to people. Despite being rich in mines, minerals, and water resources, Odisha is poor. Youths are going outside in search of jobs," Shah said, ridiculing the BJD government's development claim.

He was addressing a huge election gathering at Rameshwar ground at Sonepur in Odisha today.

Addressing the State as "Mere Odisha", the BJP stalwart said the country has reached new heights of development in the last 10 years of the Narendra Modi government and there is no problem for Odisha to see growth at the country's rate.
"Mere Odisha (My Odisha) is rich in mines and minerals and water resources. It can be made the number one State," Shah pointed out.

He expressed unhappiness that youths are going outside in search of work even though people voted the Biju Janata Dal to power for 25 years.

"If voted to power, the BJP government would establish fisheries college, agro-based industries and textile parks so that no one from this region will go outside to work as a migrant labourer.

Accusing the BJD government of failing to promote Lord Jagannath culture, Shah said, "If the BJP is voted to power, all efforts will be made to promote Lord Jagannath culture far and wide across the globe."

He said the State government here hatched a conspiracy to refrain people from celebrating consecration of Shri Ram Temple on January 22 but people didn't get biased. "People of my Odsiha celebrated Lord Ram's consecration amid full deveotion and serenity," he said.

At the outside, he said he is very happy to have come from Gujarat, the land of Lord Krishna met you in the land of Lord Jagannath. He chanted the names of Lord Jagannath, Chaushati Yogini, Maa Samaleswari, and Maa Pataneswari before addressing the gathering.

Balangir, Nuapada Become "Hubs Of Migrant Workers" Under Naveen Govt: Dharmendra Pradhan

by Hemanta Pande

Balangir/Nuapada, May 4: Union Minister and BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Sambalpur, Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday asserted that number of migrant workers from Odisha to other states has risen steadily during the last 24 years of Naveen Patnaik government.

Speaking at the BJP’s “Paribartan Samabesh” (Election rally for change), Pradhan mentioned that a large section of young men and women from Hinjili in Odisha's Ganjam district, which Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been representing for many years, are migrating to other states in search of work. Similarly, Balangir and Nuapada districts have become the hub of the migrant workers under the Naveen government. “Is this the ‘transformation’ of the 24-year-old Naveen government in the state?” he asked.

The Union Minister today participated in the BJP’s “Paribartan Samabesh” in Khariar assembly constituency of Nuapada district and Kantabanji, Titilagarh and Loisingha constituencies of Balangir district and campaigned for his party candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha and State assembly polls.

Pradhan said the intellectuality in Balangir district is not low in any way. In 24 years of Naveen rule, the district lagged in every sector. It has been published in the newspaper that Balangir will become a desert by 2050. It has been reported that there will be rain for only 50 days. Titilagarh became “Tatlagarh” (sizzling place). “Who is responsible for this?” he asked.

Most of the people from Hinjili constituency, represented by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over last two decades, are migrating to other states in search of work. Besides Hinjili, the Chief Minister will contest from Kantbanji assembly seat in the ensuing elections. Kantabanji has become a hub of the migrant workers. When we pointed out the real picture of the backward region, the Chief Minister alleged that the opponent leaders are shedding crocodile tears. Will the Chief Minister publish a white paper on the fact that how many people of Hinjili and Kantbanji get employment and self-employment under his rule? In the upcoming elections, people have already decided not to make Kantbanji as another Hinjili.

The Minister reiterated that Odisha's Asmita (identity) is under threat. Odisha's culture, language and traditions are under threat. The outside leaders are conspiring against the State and considering Odisha as their jagir (freehold land). They are taking advantage of the Chief Minister’s inefficiency and trying to rule the state from the backdoor entry. BJD has no issues for the people. They have no responsibility. They can only distribute money during the elections. People will not accept the BJD’s money.and give a befitting reply to the “inefficient and corrupt” ruling party in the upcoming elections

Speaking at a public meeting at Khariar, Pradhan said in the last 10 years the Narendra Modi government has given a total of Rs 4,963 crores to about 1,34,212 families of Nuapada district for houses, toilets, food, cooking gas, Mudra loans, assistance to women self help groups. He said that the Centre has given more than Rs 3,69,000 and around RS 4 lakh rupees per family. Although Khariar is an agriculturally backward area, there is a railway line on one side. The Minister promised new railway connections from Kantbanji to Khariar if the BJP vote to power.

Pradhan requested people to cast their vote in favour of BJP candidates both in Lok Sabha an assembly polls for the all-round development of the region.

Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases, starting from Phase one on May 13, Phase two on May 20, Phase three on May 25 and the final Phase on June 1.

The results will be announced on June 4.

Read More Election News

Elections 2024: BJD MLA Crosses All Limits, Uses Slangs In Public Meetings

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, May 4: Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal's obstination, caused by long years in power in Odisha, has crossed all limits. Leaders of the ruling party are seen throwing distasteful and derogatory remarks at rival leaders and opposition parties in public meetings during the ongoing poll campaigning.

Such a hostile situation was marked at a public meeting, addressed by Kabisuryanagar MLA Latika Pradhan.

In a video clip that recently went viral on social media, the BJD MLA is heard making abusive remarks about opponents, arrogantly saying, "Biju Janata Dal ra kehi bala bi banka kari paribani" (No one can harm a hair of BJD member) using slang term common to Odia.

While BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik always talks about being polite and humble to people, his party MLA's abusive remark about opposition leaders is a “very sorry state of affairs”, analysts say.

This was not an isolated case. BJD MLA from Jharsuguda, Dipali Das allegedly threatened people during her election campaigning recently.

The incident reportedly occurred when the BJD MLA visited Malibeunra village under Jharmunda panchayat of Kirmira block in Jharsuguda district to seek votes for the upcoming polls.

When the villagers questioned the MLA about what the development works she had done in the village, she reportedly expressed anger towards the people and said, " I don't care whether you vote for me or not."

BJP MLA candidate from Jharsuguda, Tankadhar Tripathy hit back Das for her "rude behaviour" towards the villagers and said that the people of Jharsuguda will give her a befitting reply in the ensuing elections.

Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases, starting from Phase one on May 13, Phase two on May 20, Phase three on May 25 and the final Phase on June 1.

The results will be announced on June 4.

Shah Addresses State As "Mere" Odisha, Digs At BJD Govt For "Growth Failure"

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