Rout while addressing a press conference on Thursday came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central Government for its failure on several fronts.
Accusing BJP-led government at the centre of indulging in misleading propaganda against Odisha; Rout targeted the saffron party leaders for their failure in curbing black money, increasing the minimum support price of paddy and employment generation in the country.
Rout claimed that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government so far has not fulfilled its promises made by his party before coming to power in the 2014 elections.
The senior BJD leader further stated that Odisha’s literacy rate, GDP and other developmental metrics are much better compared to other BJP-ruled States in the country.
Meanwhile, the ongoing mudslinging between the former alliance partners- BJD and BJP has provided fodder to the opposition Congress in Odisha.
“People in country have started to criticize Modi government at the centre while BJD is also going through similar phase in Odisha,” said Congress leader Narasingha Mishra.
Whether BJD’s change in strategy is just a move to counter BJP national president Amit Shah’s attack on party president & CM Naveen or it is to infuse new spirit among party workers ahead of the crucial 2019 general elections has become a point of discussion among political pundits in the State.
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Without naming any political party, Patnaik alleged that the national parties are destroying the federal structure of the country and they are working for their party’s interest only.
Speaking during the ongoing BJD’s Jan Sampark Padayatra, Patnaik stated that such parties have misled the people by presenting a fake picture of development.
Also Read: BJD not following ‘divide and rule’ policy to strengthen party: CM Naveen
“People of Odisha have not and will not accept such fake development. BJD is following Biju Babu’s ideology and the party is committed to the development of the people of Odisha. BJD is also committed to protect Odisha’s land, water and air,” said Patnaik.
While addressing public and workers during the Jan Sampark Padayatra programme at ward no. 16 in Bhubaneswar, the BJD supremo claimed that several welfare programmes of Odisha state government have now become a model for other states in the country.
BJD’s Jan Sampark Padayatra programme that is aimed at informing people about the state government's welfare programmes and also the Centre's "neglect" was launched on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.
The month-long mass contact programme to be carried out across the state was kicked off by Chief Minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik at Samantarapur Nuagaon area in Bhubaneswar.
"It's not a journey of achievements, but a 'Ghanta Ghoda' yatra (a move to suppress inefficiency). Every year they do such padayatra with a particular agenda. The foot march is undertaken with a handful of party leaders with no participation from general public. They propagate two things - some baseless allegations against Centre and beat their own drum," BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said at a press meet.
BJP leaders blamed the State government for poor health services, vacant teacher posts and frequent collapse of bridges alleging that BJD ministers have nexus with contractors.
On the other hand, BJD said the objective of the padayatra is to create awareness among the people and inform them about the injustice being meted out to Odisha by the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.
"Our aim is to make Odisha the No 1 State. We are working for the Maa, Mati, Manisha (Mother, soil and people) and will continue to do that. We will reach out to people to make them aware about our various developmental activities and central apathy," said BJD president and CM Naveen Patnaik soon after flagging off the foot march campaign in the State capital.
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The concluding ceremony will be held at Dharmasala in Jajpur district. Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik will attend the function. He will join the last day Padayatra to be held at the Kalpataru Das Sisu Udyan. Patnaik will later attend the meeting at the Dharmasala Mahotshav ground.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister is scheduled to lay foundation stones of and inaugurate 268 projects. During the drive, the party leaders also sensitised the people about various welfare programmes of the State Government and the Mahanadi water issue.
Meanwhile, the Dharmasala police detained 25 Congress and 10 BJP activists ahead of the Chief Minister's visit to the district. Notably, the Padayatra, which is carried out for 10 days from Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) to Jayaprakash Narayan Jayanti (October 11) every year, was held for a month this year.