Bhubaneswar: Raising several issues including key missing of Ratna Bhandar, non-implementation of Ayushman Bharat scheme and delay in set up of Odia University, BJP National President JP Nadda strongly criticised Naveen Patnaik-led BJD Government during his public meetings in Kandhamal and Banapur on Wednesday.
“Why has the BJD failed to protect the valuable gems and assets of Mahaprabhu Jagannath ji? Where are the keys of the Ratna Bhandar of the temple? Where have the original keys of the Ratna Bhandar of Mahaprabhu disappeared? Naveen Patnaik Babu is roaming around with duplicate keys,” the BJP President said.
Is Naveen Patnaik Babu running an original government or a duplicate government? Who is running the Odisha government is a big mystery. What kind of government is this? he asked. Why has failed to protect the Ratna Bhandar, he will have to answer this, he said.
“Naveen Babu had promised to open Odia University in four years. Fifth year of his term has started but till today there is no movement in the opening of Odia University. What happened to the tall promises of Naveen Babu?,” Shri Nadda asked.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is also running the world’s largest health insurance scheme called the Ayushman Bharat Yojna. But, in Odisha this scheme has not been implemented by the Naveen Patnaik government, depriving 60 lakh poor and needy people of the benefits of the scheme.
“I want to ask Naveen Patnaik ji, what is the fault of the people of Odisha? Why are you not allowing benefits of the Ayushman Bharat Yojna?,” he asked the CM.
He also raised the Nayagarh sugar mill issues and said Naveen Patnaik ji had also promised to start the sugar mill. But till today not a single employee had got salary nor farmers have been paid their pending dues, he added.
Citing the NCRB report, Shri Nadda said the cases of crime and atrocities against women have doubled in the State. Odisha is also leading in the trafficking of women and youth. Women are not at all safe in Odisha.
Atrocities against Dalits and Tribals are at its peak. Odisha police is even more under attack by criminals. Such a government has no moral right to remain in power, he said.
Highlighting several developmental projects and schemes of Modi government for Odisha, Nadda said with an expenditure of over Rs 220 crores, a seismic survey campaign has started on the Mahanadi basin in the state for oil and gas exploration.
The Modi government has given two new iron ore blocks which will bring growth and development in the state, he pointed out.
In Odisha, there are 87 Eklavya Model Residential Schools which are the highest in the country. For the Jal Jeevan Mission projects, the Centre has given over Rs 3,323 crores to Odisha as grant.
The BJP President further said the Modi government has established the Indian Institute of Science and Educational Research (IISER) in Behrampur with an expenditure of Rs 1582 crores. In April 2022, the Centre also started the Skill Development Institute. The government of India is also redeveloping the Bhubaneswar airport with an expenditure of Rs 300 crore.
In Puri crores of rupees are being spent on the construction of the Jagannath stadium. Similarly, Jagannath Medical College is also coming up with an expenditure of Rs 200 crore, while Rs 364 crores are being spent on total redevelopment and upgradation of Puri railway station, he added.
In Sambalpur a world class IIM is coming up in 200 acres of land with an expenditure of Rs 401 crore.
Rashtriya Adarsh Ved Vidhyalaya is also being constructed in Puri. The Narendra Modi Government is spending over Rs 8000 crores on the coastal highway connecting Puri, he pointed out.
Under the PM Krishi Sinchai Yojna, Nadda said, Odisha has been given Rs 4,000 crore by the Narendra Modi Government, while 1,300 km long national highways in Odisha are being upgraded with an expenditure of Rs 13,400 crores. Similarly, 1,214 km long new highways are being constructed in Odisha on which Rs 9,000 crores is being spent. These are not merely roads, they are highways of development of Odisha.
He said for the first time in the country, a Tribal woman who comes from a very humble background has been elevated to the highest Constitutional position. And it is a matter of great honour and pride that she hails from the holy land of Odisha.
The Modi Government has increased the pre-matric scholarships for Dalit students to 2.20 crores. Similarly, the amount of money spent on post-matric scholarship was earlier Rs 25,000 crore which has now been increased to Rs 4.30 lakh crores by the Prime Minister Modi.
Under the Stand Up Yojna Rs 36,583 crores has been sanctioned by the Narendra Modi ji which has hugely benefited the Dalits and Tribals men and women. The Narendra Modi Government also has constitutional status to the OBC Commission, he stated.
For the development of Odisha, it is imperative that the Lotus should also bloom in the state under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, Shri Nadda said.
He appealed to the people of Odisha to vote for the BJP and ensure that Lotus blooms in the State in Lok Sabha as well as Assembly elections. It is time that the people of Odisha also join the development Yatra under the leadership of PM Modi, he added.