Odisha Channel Bureau
BHUBANESWAR: BJP national president Amit Shah on Friday criticised the Naveen Patnaik Government for its failure on various fronts and urged the people of Odisha to dethrone the Biju Janata Dal government headed by Patnaik.“Ukhad Kar Fek Dijiye Is Sarkar Ko” (overthrow this government), Shah said to the cheer of the crowd at the rally at Baramunda locality here. He, however, did not speak about any scam that had come to light during the BJD rule in Odisha.Although the BJP remained a partner in the government in Odisha for nine years from 2000 to 2009, Shah highlighted the Biju Janata Dal government’s failure in tackling poverty and providing employment to the unemployed youths during its 17 years rule.
The Naveen Patnaik Government had even failed to provide drinking water and electricity to the poor people of Odisha, Shah said.In his 25-minute-long address, Shah named the numerous new schemes that the Narendra Modi Government had launched during its two-and-half-year rule. Attacking the opposition on the demonetisation issue, Shah criticised the opposition parties for opposing demonetisation.The demonetisation was aimed at protecting the interests of the poor people of the country.
He also spoke in detail about Narendra Modi Government’s financial assistance for various projects in Odisha, including the proposed coastal highway.The BJP president, however, did not speak about the recommendation of the M.B.Shah Commission for a CBI probe into the mining scam in Odisha.He also remained silent about the ongoing CBI investigation into the chit fund scam. This was Shah’s second visit after he attended a similar party rally in the city in January 2015.Unlike today’s rally, Shah had not uttered a single word against the BJD or Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in his address at the previous rally two years ago.
Senior BJP leaders Bijoy Mohapatra and Dilip Ray were conspicuously absent at the rally.Among others who were present include Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram, and State BJP president Basanta Panda and Leader BJP Legislature Party K.V.Singh Deo.The two Union Ministers and Panda highlighted the Narendra Modi Government’s achievements and financial assistance to Odisha under various welfare schemes. They urged the BJP workers to stay united and work hard to make BJP successful in the forthcoming panchayat elections, and finally dethrone the Naveen Patnaik Government in 2019.