Bargarh: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tour to the district on February 21 to attend a farmers’ rally, BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reviewed preparations after visiting the meeting venue.
The rally will send a message to the farmers of the State that Modi is with them. Besides, drought assistance of Rs 815 crore from the Centre to Odisha will be highlighted in the meeting, said sources.
Pradhan told media persons, “This area is mostly close to the heart of farmers. The Prime Minister will tell farmers about the schemes launched for their benefit and understand the problems. Apart from this, he will directly get connected to the peasant group.”
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is visiting Kalahandi and Balangir districts on February 18 to attend different functions.
Though the chief minister is said to be on official visit to Kalahandi and Balangir on February 18, political pundits see it as counter move of the ruling party before Modi’s tour to Bargarh.
Patnaik will lay foundation stone of irrigation projects in the two districts and address a meeting where farmers are expected to attend in large numbers.
Urban Development Minister Puspendra Singhdeo said, “The congregation is expected to be a big one where the Chief Minister will talk about the programmes launched by the BJD government for the farmers.”
Refuting talks of any counter strategy of BJD to Modi visit, Singhdeo said, “The February 18 programme of the Chief Minister was fixed long before announcement of the Prime Minister’s schedule and has nothing to do with Modi visit.”