Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Anurag Thakur today said that Bharatiya Janata Party will contest elections on its own strength.
“BJP will contest the election on the strength of its workers. BJP has the most popular leader Narendra Modi to fight the election and will come out with flying colours”, said he.
Shri Thakur strongly denounced the remark made by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik dubbing the BJP as anti-people and anti-development.
Addressing a press conference here, Shri Thakur said, “If we were anti people and anti-development, the people would not have voted us to power both in 2014 and 2019 elections with a comfortable margin.”
“It does not matter what the Chief Minister has said…..we believe in the strength of the people who will decide who is anti-people and anti-development”, he said.
“Sabka Saath Sabka Bikash” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot be an anti-people or anti-development, he further said.
The Union Minister further said that the Modi Government never discriminated against Odisha in the development of the State. “Infact Odisha had received huge funds during the NDA regime under various welfare measures and central schemes in comparison to what was released by the previous UPA Government,” he claimed.
Shri Thakur said Odisha had received only Rs 2,63,243 crore during the UPA Government while the NDA Government had released Rs 18,83,654 crore to the State during the last nine years.
During the G20 more than 200 meetings were held in 60 cities in different States and union territories showcasing the art and tradition of the country which will boost the tourism sector. Odisha will also be benefitted from the economic corridor connecting Europe through Arab countries, Thakur asserted.
The Union Minister told the Media that India is doing well in every sector under the Modi Government. During the G20 meeting the Konark wheel on the backdrop of PM Narendra Modi became a point of discussion around the Globe.
He also claimed the tax collection in Odisha increased following the enactment of GST by the Modi Government.
The Information and Broadcasting Minister has urged the State Government to ensure speedy and better implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JMM) scheme that can bring significant changes in the lives of women folk.
“I would like to request the State Government speedy and proper implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission scheme,” Shri Thakur said in the presser.
Shri Thakur emphasised that by passing the Nari Shakti Vandan bill Modi Government has delivered 33 percent reservation to the women in parliament and state assemblies ensuring the empowerment of women leadership in the country.
Referring to the allegations of corruption and irregularities in the implementation of various central schemes in the State, Shri Thakur said, “We will examine these and issue notice to the state if found any irregularities as is being done in case of West Bengal.”
He, however, asked the Odisha Government to ensure that all the central schemes are implemented properly so that the poor people will be benefited out of these schemes and programmes.
When asked whether the BJP will contest the election on its own in Odisha or will have any alliance with others the Union Minister said, “BJP will contest the election on the strength of its workers. BJP has the most popular leader Narendra Modi to fight the election and will come out with flying colours.”
Reacting to Shri Thakur’s statement on alleged irregularities in execution of Central schemes in Odisha, senior BJD MLA Debi Prasad Mishra said, “If the Union Minister has any proof, let him show it and take action against those responsible for it. He might be making such baseless allegations in view of the election.”