Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has launched a strong attack on the BJP government in Odisha after the state issued a notification mandating that all new and existing government offices be painted in a saffron color. The BJD has accused the ruling party of attempting to divert public attention from its “failures” by implementing the color change, which the BJD alleges will cost the state exchequer thousands of crores of rupees.
In a press release, BJD spokesperson and media coordinator Dr. Lenin Mohanty stated that the BJP government, which has been in power for 13 months, has “completely failed to provide good governance.” He pointed to a range of issues, including a deterioration of law and order, an increase in crimes against women, and a complete stall in development work.
Dr. Mohanty highlighted specific incidents to underscore his claims, mentioning the gang rape of a college student at Gopalpur beach, the suicide of a student at Balasore FM College, and the tragic burning of a minor girl in Balanga. He described these incidents as a source of “shame and condemnation” for Odisha.
The BJD spokesperson also criticized the government’s handling of examinations, noting that question papers have been leaked 13 times in the 13 months of the BJP’s rule. He also alleged a failure to organize a “flawless Rath Yatra.”
According to Dr. Mohanty, the government’s decision to paint buildings saffron is a deliberate strategy to “divert attention from its own failures.” He likened the action to the Roman emperor Nero playing the flute while Rome burned, saying that the people of Odisha would not be fooled by this tactic. He concluded by asserting that the state’s citizens would hold the government accountable for its shortcomings.
This is not the first time the BJD has raised the issue of “saffronization” by the BJP government. The BJD had previously criticized the decision to paint government school buildings with an orange shade, and also accused the government of changing the color of school uniforms to align with the BJP’s color code. The BJP, on the other hand, has defended its decisions, stating that the new colors are meant to create a good environment and that the previous BJD government had also used its own party colors on government buildings.