BJP terms BJD’s ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’ scheme as new drama

The Odisha unit of the BJP on Tuesday came down heavily on the ruling BJD and criticized its newly-launched ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’ scheme terming it as another scam of the conch party.

Launching a broadside against the Naveen Patnaik-led government, former Odisha BJP president, Samir Mohanty questioned if it is another scheme to fool the people of the state.

"Is it another scheme to fool the people of Odisha? BJD members will now carry out work worth lakhs without tenders. It's a new scheme for corruption. ‘Ama Odisha, 50% PC Odisha’ is the current trend in the State. What is the status of several schemes introduced by the BJD govt," Mohanty asked.

"Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha is just the new version of ‘Ama Gaon Ama Bikash’ scheme which was announced before the 2019 general elections. CM Naveen has so far sanctioned more than 3,24,523 projects under ‘Ama Gaon Ama Bikash’ scheme.

But, surprisingly 2,94,623 projects are yet to be completed,” Mohanty added.

Moreover, Mohanty also questioned if Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used to replicate the picture and voice of CM Naveen in the audio & video clips that are being shown in meetings.

Seconding BJP, the Congress also criticised BJD for the scheme.

“Every time election approaches, BJD announces schemes. The announcement of the scheme is to protect the livelihood of BJD workers as only the party workers or selected contractors will get the funds through these schemes. As many as 1000 cold storages can be opened using Rs 4000 crore which has been sanctioned for the scheme,” Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President, Sarat Pattanayak alleged.

“If they are claiming that they are preaching Jagannath culture, then why they are not opening the Ratna Bhandar of Puri Srimandir,” Pattanayak questioned.

No comments from the ruling BJD have been received in this regard.

Earlier on Monday, the Odisha Cabinet approved the ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’ scheme with an allocation of Rs 4000 crore.

The scheme will cover all Gram Panchayats in each Block of the State with an entitlement of Rs 50 lakh. The project cost will be between Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs10 lakh.