Sambalpur: In his first poll address post first phase polls in Odisha, an aggressive Prime Minister Narendra Modi fired a salvo at CM Naveen Patnaik. He was addressing the Vijay Sankalp Samabesh of the BJP at Sambalpur today.
Though he didn't name Naveen directly, in his inimitable style Modi did take a dig at Naveen, when Modi recalled in the large rally here by saying "everyone is fully aware as how fingers were pointed at some big names in the chit fund scam and coal block allocation in Odisha."
The statement gains significance as CBI had questioned an official of Naveen Niwas, Saroj Sahu, in 2016 during the ongoing investigation on Ponzi scam in Odisha as per the directives of Supreme Court. And recently CBI questioning Naveen in one such coal block allocation case came to fore during a hearing at SC. Many ministers and senior leaders of BJD were summoned by the CBI and two senior BJD MLAs and a BJD MP had even been jailed in the Ponzi scam.
Modi slammed the Naveen-led BJD government on Mahanadi in Sambalpur, where a year ago BJD launched a large-scale mass agitation, satygraha over Mahanadi waters. He today raked up the Mahanadi water mismanagement by BJD government and said, “State Government data shows nearly 70 per cent water is being drained to Bay of Bengal.”
"Despite river like Mahanadi and a dam like Hirakud, farmers in western Odisha starve for a drop of water," said Modi and added when Modi Sarkar takes charge again on May 23, we will set up a separate ministry for 'Water management', which will formulate a water conservation plan to conserve rain water and prevent wastage of river water that gets drained into sea during rainy season.
The Prime Minister aiming at BJD said when a government is busy in getting a 'cut' or the infamous 'PC', which even Naveen has admitted to, on welfare schemes, how can they ensure security for ‘aam admi’.
Modi also attacked the much-touted KALIA scheme of Naveen Government as he labelled the scheme as being ridden with corruption and irregularities. He lashed out at the BJD government for putting hurdles on road of PM-KISAN. "The BJD government has sent an incomplete beneficiary list to the centre," he charged.
Taking on the Naveen Patnaik government on Re 1-a-kilo scheme, Modi in his unique style likened the role of Naveen Patnaik to a 'postman' in the scheme.
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"When Centre gives Rs 25 per Kg of cheap rice, the BJD government contributes at most Rs 2,” the master orator he is, Modi said adding it with an analogy. He said “if your son residing at Delhi sends a money order and when the postman delivers it you, who should you give credit to - Postman or Son?" When the crowd roared 'Son', Modi in a sarcastic tone said the BJD government is giving credit to 'postman'.
In a scathing attack on Congress, PM Modi again reminded the famous observation of former PM Rajiv Gandhi that 'On every 100 paise sent, only 15 paise reaches the masses." PM charged Congress party playing to brokers’ tune and said your 'Chowkidar' has put an end to this 'Bhrast' governance.
Beginning his address, Modi saluted the huge crowd that had gathered braving the scorching Sun said 'Juhar' in Sambalpuri dialect and stated that visiting Odisha is like a pilgrimage for him. He left no opportunity to hit out at the Naveen-led BJD government. While concluding his address before leaving for Bhubaneswar road show Modi gave a new slogan "Durnitigrast hoshiyar, ghare ghare Chowkidar, Black marketers pack up, ghare, ghare Chowkidar,.... Nami upare bhari Kaamdar, ghare ghare chowkidar ."