Berhampur, Apr 29: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda slammed the Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha, saying that Patnaik did not allow the centre's insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat to be implemented in his state.

"10.74 lakh poor families, that is, 55 crore individuals, who are known by their professions like rikshawalas, vegetable vendors, bus conductors, cleaners, drivers, truck cleaners and drivers, liftman operators, barbers...all of them have been given Rs 5 lakh annually for treatment of serious illnesses. However, unfortunately, the poor in Odisha are not included in it. Naveen Babu has deprived them," Nadda said at a public meeting in Odisha's Berhampur on Sunday.

Continuing his attack against the Chief Minister, Nadda said, "He (Naveen Patnaik) has not allowed Ayushman Bharat to be implemented here. Should we let such a government be in power? You have to change the government, make five of our candidates win and Ayushman Bharat will be implemented here as well."

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which is often seen as a friendly party of the BJP, is not fighting the polls in Odisha with the BJP. Both parties are political rivals in the eastern state.

Speaking on PM Modi's poll promise for the Ayushman Bharat program, Nadda said, "PM Modi has decided to include all transgender persons under the Ayushman Bharat program and give them Rs 5 lakh for diagnosis. Anyone above the age of 70, regardless of their caste, religion or locality will also be included within the Ayushman Bharat scheme."

Sharing his experience when he was an MLA in 1993, Nadda pointed out how two Indira Aawas Houses were allotted in every panchayat then but at present under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadeship 40-50 houses were constructed.

"I became an MLA in 1993 and at that time, my BDO (Block Development Officer) used to say to me that you have been granted 'two' Indira Aawas Yojana in one panchayat, so let me know the names whom we have to accord this Indira Aawas Yojana...Today, the scenario has changed, Narendra Modi became the PM and in the last 5 years, 4 crore houses have been built. In every panchayat 40-50 houses were constructed," Nadda said.

BJP Berhampur Lok Sabha candidate Pradip Panigrahi and Aska BJP LoK Sabha candidate Anita Subhadarasni, BJP MLA candidates, and other leaders were present at the meeting.

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.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) got the maximum number of seats (12), followed by the BJP (8) and the Congress just one.

(ANI)

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