Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that June 4 will be the ruling BJD’s expiry date and a BJP Chief Minister will take oath in Bhubaneswar on June 10, has heated up the political atmosphere in the state. Within hours of the PM's statements, BJD launched an offensive and asserted that its party CM would take oath a day before on June 9.
Amidst such tug of war ahead of the crucial polls in Odisha, BJP National Vice-President Baijayant Panda on Tuesday stated that there is rampant corruption in the form of PC (percentage commissioning) in Odisha while corruption has taken the back seat in the country under the leadership of PM Modi.
Panda asserted that a new BJP government will be formed in Odisha on June 10. As the ruling BJD is indulged in corruption and misgovernance, the BJP will certainly come to power in the state.
Taking a jibe, while responding to a media query on CM Naveen Patnaik’s statement that BJD CM will take oath on June 9, Panda said,
“Only two people cannot make government by travelling in a helicopter.” Panda further alleged that people in the state are being threatened to vote for the BJD and the BJP is with the people and they do not need to fear as 'Modi Ki Guarantee' is with them.
In Kendrapara, a lot of people are joining the BJP every day at block and district level and even from the BJD. The situation in villages in Kendrapara is totally different and they are keen to make Narendra Modi prime Minister for the third time and help the party win maximum seats in Kendrapara district as well, said the BJP VP.
Responding to a question that whether the BJP will stop BSKY, Panda said that such misleading statements clearly show that fear has cropped up in the ruling BJD.
“Ayushman Bharat is the biggest health scheme in the world that provides assistance of Rs 5 lakh. But unfortunately, this has not been implemented in Odisha. The ruling party even tried to hijack central schemes including the free rice and pucca houses schemes. But people are aware of this and they will give a befitting reply to BJD,” said Panda.
Addressing a presser at the party headquarters in Bhubaneswar, the BJP National Vice President highlighted the party’s Sankalp Patra (manifesto) which was recently released by the party’s National President JP Nadda.
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According to Panda, India has come a long way and the country is being lauded for its massive infrastructural development in the last 10 years under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership. There was a time when India was dependent on other countries.
Now things have changed and the world is looking up to India and Modi’s leadership during times of war or any other crisis situation. It is due to ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ that there has been an economic boom in India for which 25 crore people have moved out of the poverty line. However, Odisha has been deprived of the benefits due to 25 years of misgovernance, said Panda.
“Two days back, BJP National President JP Nadda Ji released the Sankalp Patra (Manifesto). BJP has showed the people of the country that the party does what it says- be it Ram temple construction, abrogation of Article 370 or wiping out terrorism,” said Panda.
The BJP Sankalp Patra has highlighted 21 pledges for the people. Addressing the presser, Panda focused on some key promises made in the party’s manifesto.
Irrigation Woes & Paddy Procurement in Odisha
The ruling party in Odisha had promised 17 years ago that 33 per cent of land will be irrigated. But it has not happened so far and the farmers are facing problems in irrigating their land. By 2029, irrigation facilities will be increased by three times in Odisha. Paddy procurement will be done at Rs 3100 per quintal and farmers will get their money within 48 hours. Electronic weighing machines will also be used to eliminate corruption, said Panda.
Talking about the fishermen community in coastal areas and their problems during the lean period when their income source decreases, Panda said that the BJP has promised financial assistance of Rs 10,000 during the lean period.
BJP To Fill Up 65000 Govt Vacancies in 2 Years
Despite being in power for 25 years, the ruling BJD has not been able to fill the vacancies in government departments. Hence, the youths of the state are forced to migrate to other parts of the state and the country. BJP has pledged to fill 65000 government vacancies in the first two years and subsequently 1.5 lakh jobs. The focus will be given to OBC and Economically Weaker Sections, said Panda.
Infrastructural Development in Odisha
Around 75000 km of roads will be constructed in Odisha from gram panchayat to district headquarters and from districts to state highways. The entire world has seen how much progress has been made under PM Modi’s leadership in the creation of infrastructure which is more than what was present or created in the last 70 to 72 years in the country. This infrastructural boost has triggered economic progress in the country, said the BJP National Vice President.
However, Odisha has been deprived of this and the 75000 km of roads will bring in a change and new industries will come up thereby creating job opportunities, he said.
Industrial Corridor And Development in Odisha
The proposed corridor will be from Sambalpur-Rourkela-Dhamra-Paradip and it will pave the way for setting up new industries. This is also important for Kendrapara district. According to Panda, the BJP’s Sankalp Patra also focuses on women, western Odisha development, Odia Asmita, good governance through Odia and other issues concerning the people.
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Later in the day, BJD, which is yet to come up with its own manifesto, termed BJP’s manifesto as fake.
Addressing a press conference, party spokespersons Sasmit Patra and Swayam Prakash Mohapatra branded BJP’s manifesto as nothing but a false manifesto. They termed it as false saying the BJP hasn’t fulfilled the promises it made in its 2014 and 2019 manifestos.
“In 2014, they said they would give special state status to Odisha. They are tricking us today and will be doing so in the coming days,” said Patra.
The BJP launched a counter-attack and the party's state spokesperson, Sajjan Sharma said, “He who has been ruling the state for the last 25 years is not able to give details as to what he has done in the last five years. And, he has also not come up with any manifesto to say what he would do in the coming years.”