Pradeep Pattanayak

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Vice President Baijayant Panda on Monday launched a fierce attack on the ruling BJD dispensation while addressing an election meeting at Laikera in Jharsuguda Assembly constituency. 

“In Odisha, gundaraaj is ruling the roost. Every week, three to four cases of sexual harassment of minor girls and women are being reported in the state. They are being murdered. According to information, in the last 10 to 12 years, Odisha has registered the highest growth in crime rate in the whole nation. We the people of Odisha are being the victims of this increasing crime graph. The time has come and you should think how long we should allow this government. You should think about what would be the future of the girls sitting here,” Panda said. 

“In the new India, popular Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath has got the state rid of mafia. On the other hand, in Odisha, mafia are ruling the state. A number of ministers of this government are involved in violence, corruption, rape and murder and you know them well," he added.  

Referring to Naba Das assassination case, Panda said, “Here, the ministers are in fear and apprehension and the government is drastically failing to protect them.  If the ministers are not safe here, what to say about the common people and minor girls?” 

“For the ensuing election, you have to take a decision that how long you would tolerate this government in Odisha.  I would like to request that you should take a pledge and disseminate a message that gundaraaj would no longer be tolerated. The message would emerge from Jharsuguda and engulf the entire State,” he added. 

“Before I conclude my speech, I would like to say you all that the time for a change has arrived. In the general election scheduled to be held in 2024, by dint of Modiji’s popularity and the good ruling of the BJP, our party will form the government once again. There is no denying that where there is double engine government, the pace of development has accelerated there," the BJP leader said.  

Referring to the OPSC scam, Panda said, “Soon there will be double engine government in Odisha. And then, those involved in corruption would be put behind bars. In Odisha, people are looking for an alternative. And the alternative is the BJP’s double-engine government. Instead of waiting for a year, we should take the step towards the change from Laikera, from Jharsuguda.”

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