Bhubaneswar: As the Modi government completed three years in office, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Saturday accused the party of not doing much for the development of Odisha and country in general.
After being cornered by Opposition parties, BJD today retaliated and asked 10 questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA government at a press conference here today. At the meet, senior BJD leader Pratap Deb accused the Centre of failing to keep up the promises made by the saffron party in its manifesto issued before 2014 elections.
“BJP is claiming to make Odisha its laboratory for welfare schemes. But the party should openly come up and inform people of the state what it has done so far for the State,” said Deb.
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NDA in its election manifesto had claimed to create two crore jobs every year. Going by such promises, it would have generated 6 crore jobs including 30 lakh employments in Odisha, he asked sarcastically.
Targeting Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Deb wanted to know how many Odia youth have got employment in the IOCL and what happened to the demand for special category status for Odisha.
Despite coming to power, BJP has failed to fulfil its promise and taken a back step on the issue. Similarly, the BJD has also cornered the BJP for not hiking MSP for various agricultural produce.
Though BJD had supported the demonitization drive, BJP should now come up with a ‘white paper’ on how much black money has returned after the drive which was touted to be one of the bold steps taken by Modi government.
Apart from this, the BJD has also asked BJP to share information and status about the coastal highway project, central assistance and conversion of state highways into national highways in Odisha, non revision of coal royalty, all of which have come to nought.
“Next time the union ministers come to Odisha, they should answer the 10 questions raised by BJD,” Deb added.