At a time when the much awaited direct flight services from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela was inaugurated ahead of the Hockey World Cup, the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s picture in hoardings and advertisement has not gone well with the leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The BJP leaders, including Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, criticised the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD)-led Odisha government over the matter. Pradhan termed the absence of PM Modi’s pictures in advertisement and hoardings as ‘unfortunate’.
According to Pradhan, there could be a political rivalry but there is a need to be united whenever it’s a matter of Odisha’s interest.
“Prime Minister during his recent Bali visit had spoken about the historic Bali Yatra. He (PM) had been taking Odisha’s name at several international events. But it is unfortunate that the Odisha government even did not thanked the PM,” said Pradhan.
According to Pradhan, it would have been appropriate if the PM’s picture was also included in the advertisement and hoardings.
“It is not the tradition of Odisha. And today’s event was only possible due to the efforts of the Prime Minister. I am sure the Chief Minister must not be aware of such a thing,” Pradhan added.
Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi said, “The Centre has contributed 100 % of the funds but unfortunately there is no picture of the Prime Minister in any of the hoarding and advertisement. It is shameful that not a single official associated with the state government acknowledged it. All of us as well as the people of Odisha wanted to hear was a thank you from the Chief Minister.”
Speaking on the matter, Odisha State Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu said, “Opposition is in the habit of bringing allegations.”
She further said, “There has been a lot of development in the past 22 years of governance of the BJD led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.”
(Reported by Kapilendra Pradhan)