Sambalpur, May 8: Union Minister and BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Sambalpur, Dharmendra Pradhan hit out at Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and asked why the people in Odisha were poor despite the state having fertile land and mineral resources.

Dharmendra Pradhan said, "After running 24 years stable government, why are the people in Odisha poor despite the State having fertile land, mineral resources, long sea coasts, rich culture and heritage more importantly."

He alleged that despite making several promises to the people of Odisha, the BJD government failed to provide them with basic necessities such as drinking water and water for irrigation.

He launched a fresh attack against CM Naveen Patnaik and raised five questions.

Dharmendra Pradhan asked, "Why are the students leaving schools in Odisha? Why is there a shortage of teachers in schools in Odisha? Why are there no doctors in the government hospitals in Odisha? Why has the primary health care service in Odisha deteriorated? Why has "Dadan" (migration of workers to outside the state) increased in Odisha?"

Pradhan accused the Chief Minister of being "remote-controlled" by his party leaders while addressing the election rally.

Pradhan's comments come after Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remark that "June 4 is the expiry date of the BJD government, saying that "BJP is daydreaming about forming government in Odisha."

(ANI)

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