BJP came to power by telling lies in Odisha, alleges LoP Naveen Patnaik; Saffron party hits back

Leader of Opposition (LoP) and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday launched a broadside at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and accused the saffron party of coming to power by telling lies to people in the state.

While addressing party workers during the launch of its Padayatra in Bhubaneswar, Patnaik said that Padayatra is a powerful medium and BJD has transformed into a social movement.

The BJD stands with the people and service and self-respect is our mantra and development is our identity. The BJD believes in work. In the last 24 years, BJD has done a lot for the development of infrastructure, health, education and various other sections including farmers and women empowerment. There has been economic stability and poverty which was around 70 percent in the year 2000, has reduced to 10 percent. The per capita income has increased and Odisha is ahead of other states where there is double engine government. Odisha is in a better position than several other states. Lakhs of people were getting benefits under the BSKY. Now the government has changed the name, alleged Patnaik.

“You can change name, colour but you cannot change history. People know everything and the BJP came to power by making false promises. Are you getting 300 units of free electricity? How many of you got Rs 3000? How many women got Rs 50,000,” questioned Patnaik. According to Patnaik, the BJP promised a lot of things during elections and bagged votes.

“Now everybody has come to know about such lies as the BJP has no control over prices of essential commodities. The women are not safe even at police stations. The government employees are also not safe at Raj Bhawan. The people are no longer able to trust this present government. They (BJP) can win elections by telling false stories, but cannot win people’s hearts,” said Patnaik.

Responding to Patnaik’s statements, Odisha BJP vice-president Biranchi Tripathy said, “Naveen Patnaik is yet to digest BJP’s victory. Yes, people know everything. They know that the BJD was painting every area in their own party’s colour for which people kept BJD out of power. With the faith shown by people, BJP is trying to fulfil the promises made in its Sankalp Patra.”

Tripathy said that over 25 lakh beneficiaries have got assistance under Subhadra yojana and there is a target to provide assistance to 1 crore women.

“BSKY name has not changed yet, it may happen in future. Ayushman Bharat scheme will be launched and under Gopabandhu Swasthya Surakshya Yojana around 1 crore families will get benefits. Around 80 to 90 percent of the population will get free healthcare facilities,” said Tripathy. The senior BJP leader said that people have reposed faith in BJP for which the party won majority seats both in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

“Every day, BJD MPs, Sarpanchs and other workers are leaving the party. Who will now trust Naveen Patnaik? People gave the opportunity to Naveen Babu to serve people for 24 years. BJP has already shown that it has come to serve people and already in 100 days the party has come up with a lot of welfare schemes,” said Tripathy.