Bhubaneswar: The Governing Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today reacted sharply to its criticism by Prime Minister Narnedra Modi and BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda at different programms on 28 April.
In a Media statement, BJD leader and Berhampur MP candidate Bhrugu Baxipatra said, “I was shocked to see Shri Nadda and Pradeep Panigrahi in the same dais. Shri Panigrahi is a charge-sheeted criminal who cheated people in the cash for jobs scam. He was in jail for months together, and the court has framed charges against him.”
“I was in BJP for 23 years. I joined BJP because I thought it was a party with a difference. We had all agitated against Panigrahi for his misdeeds including money for jobs scam. I was shocked and dismayed when the party took a criminal like Panigrahi with open arms against whose misdeeds we were regularly agitating. It has shocked the BJP cadres in Odisha and also demoralised them,” said Baxipatra.
Shri Nadda had targeted the BJD government terming it corrupt and called on his party workers to remove the government and install double engine sarkar for the development of the State.
While addressing the Vijay Sankalp Samabesh here, Shri Nadda said Naveen Patnaik’s BJD is attempting to bring in outside leaders in Odisha, which is a matter of concern for the State. The response to this lies in the people of Odisha pressing the ‘Lotus’ button on May 13, he said.
“Under the BJD Government, corruption and Baburaj are rampant and the State Government’s misdeeds have led to 160 chit fund companies swindling Rs 32,000 crore from 20 lakh people, which the Odisha Government is refusing to return,” he said.
Even, blacklisted companies have been given contracts under the Jal Jeevan Mission in the State. Shri Nadda appealed to the people of the State to help form a BJP double-engineered Government both at the Centre and in Odisha.
On Prime Minister’s comment on Odia Asmita (pride), the BJD leader said criminal people like Pradeep Panigrahi and Prashant Jagdev, who were thrown out by BJD for their misconduct, have been welcomed by BJP with open arms. Is this symbol of Odia Asmita?, he asked.
Are they the poster boys of BJP’s Odia Asmita that the party is showing to the people of Odisha. Baxipatra added.
At a national TV interview, Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday said that Odisha’s identity, pride and its language are under threat and people of the State will not tolerate this any longer.
“Odia language and Odisha’s asmita (pride) are under threat. I don’t think Odisha people will tolerate it for long.” Modi said in an interview with a national news channel.
Commenting on why the BJP parted ways with the BJD, Modi said, “The BJD used to support us based on issues. Many other parties also give us issue-based support. Our relation with the BJD in the State is different.”
“In such a situation, we think we should get the chance to serve Odisha. If we get the chance, we will take Odisha to the pinnacle of development,” he added.
