BJP’s National President JP Nadda targeted the BJD government while addressing a public meeting at Padampur in Bargarh on Thursday.
Before addressing the gathering, Nadda offered his salute to Saheed Madho Singh and poet Gangadhar Meher of Bargarh district and instantly struck a chord with the people gathered.
Then he went on to target the BJD government on several issues.
He took a swipe at Naveen Patnaik for not implementing the Central government’s Ayushman Bharat Yojana in Odisha.
68 lakh Odisha families eprived of Ayushman Bharat Yojana facilities
“Modiji is giving the health cover of Rs 5 lakh per year to 50 crore people and 10.74 crore families. Among the beneficiaries, there are the poorest of the poor people like rickshaw pullers, bus drivers, cleaners, lift men, security men, rag pickers etc. But, Naveen Babu did not like this. He said Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana will work here. Because of this denial, around 68 lakh families in Odisha are deprived of the facility. These people are those who are working in Tamil Nadu, Bangalore and Mumbai as labourers. If they suffer from Cancer there and go to Tata Memorial Hospital, Biju Swasthya Yojan won’t work there. But under Ayushman Bharat Yojana, if a Bargarh man goes to Mumbai for treatment, he would receive Rs 5 lakh and get treatment,” he said.
“I also want to say that every citizen above 70 years irrespective of caste, colour, religion and income group would get an Ayushman Card of Rs 5 lakh every year to get treatment for severe diseases,” he added.
“I don’t know how much Naveen babu loves Odisha. But I want to say Modiji always comes forward to help Odisha people despite the fact that the BJD government is here. You will be happy to know that your grant-in-aid has been increased by three times. And he (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) has built the permanent campus of the Indian Institute of Management in Sambalpur,” he said.
Referring to the Puri Srimandir Ratna Bhandar issue, he said, “If you want to get back the Ratna Bhandar key, then turn the key of lotus on May 20, 25 and June 1. Ratna Bhandar key would surface on its own.”
'Odisha needs a Odia-speaking CM'
“If you want a young CM, a CM of Odisha, an Odia-speaking CM then press the button of lotus (BJP's symbol). A CM should be one who is born here, knows the culture and speaks the language. This is why there is the question of ‘Swabhiman’,” he said.
Odisha has been subjected to a lot of torture. But the people of Odisha, who are peace-loving, won’t tolerate this anymore. They will come forward and help BJP form government here, he said.