Sambalpur, Apr 20: Union Minister and BJP nominee for Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat, Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said that people have decided to change the 24-year-old inefficient, inactive and corrupt government in Odisha.

Speaking at a rally in Palsagora of Boudh district, Pradhan said that crores of rupees were seized recently from a liquor manufacturer and a tall leader, whose factory was based in Boudh. The State government has been encouraging such tainted leaders in the hope of gaining revenue from them.

Targeting the BJD government, Pradhan said, "Even after a long rule of 24 years led by the BJD government, people in the State are not getting pure drinking water. Young people are going outside the state to work as "bonded labour". The Prime Minister has paid more than Rs 10,000 crore only to provide drinking water to the houses of the State, but the State government is not able to provide a drop of drinking water in this region. The State government has spent Rs 800 crore only from the total allocated money by the Modi government."

"Malnutrition is higher in Odisha than the national average. The State government has made such a development in Odisha that people of more than 100 villages in the state are threatening to boycott the vote in the ensuing elections. This government is an inefficient government- a government of contractors . A government that distributes the contract of all the major developmental projects to the contractors of other states and frustrates the Odia people. Time has come to change the inefficient, inactive and corrupt government in Odisha," he said.

The BJP leader appreciated the welfare and developmental schemes of the Narendra Modi government at the centre.

"PM Modi's welfare schemes and the development work of the past 10 years have taken India to new heights of growth. While the Congress led UPA government had given Odisha about Rs 4 lakh crore in its tenure, the PM Modi government has given Rs 18 lakh crore to Odisha for the various development projects," Pradhan said.

Also Read: Dharmendra Pradhan Challenges BJD Leaders For Open Debate Over Development In Sambalpur Region

Under Garib Kalyan Yojana, around 3.5 crore people of the state are getting free 5kg of rice every month, he added.
Pradhan also said the Modi government has provided the state with maximum allocations under various pro-poor schemes, but the state government has failed to provide the poor with benefits.

Later in the day, the BJP leader also paid obeisance at Rameswar Temple and Shree Jagannath Temple in Boudh today and sought blessings. "I have self esteem about the Odia pride. I am proud of the rich culture and heritage of our state. These temples are the holy places of Odia race, tradition and culture," he said.

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