Bhubaneswar: Hitting out at two national parties, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday targeted Congress president Sonia Gandhi and BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi accusing them of shedding crocodile tears for Odisha and hurting Odia "Swabhiman" (pride).
"Where were Congress President Sonia Gandhi, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, BJP president Rajnath Singh and party's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi when people suffered due to cyclone Phailin and subsequent floods," Patnaik asked at three public meetings on occasion of the 98th birth Anniversary of his legendary father Biju Patnaik.
Patnaik addressed a women rally at Berhampur, a farmers and workers gathering at Sambalpur and a youth rally in Bhubaneswar during the day after the Election Commission announced schedules for the ensuing general elections.
Sonia, Rahul and Modi made beeline for Uttarakhand when the Himalayan state was hit by a disaster, but they were not seen anywhere in Odisha which was hit by the very severe cyclonic storm Phailin and resultant floods, he said.
Now with elections approaching, these leaders are making rounds in Odisha and misleading people, Patnaik said.
Slamming Congress led UPA government for denying special category status to Odisha and delay in revision of mines royalty, Patnaik attacked Modi accusing him of hurting Odia Swabhiman on migration of labour to Gujarat issue.
Referring to a recent public speech of Modi here, the BJD supremo said, "Where were the leaders seeking votes in the name of Lord Jagannath when the people in the Jagannath's land faced the worst natural calamities."
Ridiculing BJP's "One Vote, One Note" slogan, he said "A large number of people from Ganjam work in Surat and other parts of Gujarat and contribute to the development of that state. But not a single note (money) came from that state when majority of people were affected in the calamities."
Smelling "politics" behind the special category status given to Seemandhra, Patnaik said "Will you (Centre) say which country shares international boundary with it?"
Patnaik said Odisha has been incurring huge financial loss to the tune of Rs 1,800 crore per annum allegedly due to the Centre's "love" for mine owners. "Had the state got Rs 1,800 crore from mining sector, we could have created more infrastructure in health, education ..," he said.
Patnaik also sought to highlight the "good works" done during his 14-year rule.
Urging people to ensure victory of BJD candidates in all the 21 Lok sabha seats, Patnaik said if BJD's strength goes up in Parliament, it can raise state issues effectively.
Similarly, he wanted victory of BJD in 125 of the 147 assembly seats in the state.
Obviously referring to reports about a lead role being taken by him in the national politics, Patnaik said: "I will work for the development of Odisha and safeguarding the pride of Odias till my last breath."