Bhubaneswar: BJD Supremo and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik today slammed the BJP government over price hike dubbing the Mohan Majhi government as Mahanga Mada government.
Holding posters and banners, thousands of BJD workers assembled here at Lower PMG Square and staged protest over price hike and farmers’ suicide incidents reported in different parts of the State following crop loss due to unseasonal rain.
Many of the BJD leaders were seen staging a unique protest wearing garlands of potatoes, onions and garlic here.
Addressing the protest meeting, Patnaik criticized the BJP government for its failure to control the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities in the State.
“Prices are increasing, but there is no action from the government,” he said, adding that the government has no control over the market.
The LoP stated that the BJP government, formed in June last year, claims to be a government of the people. However, it seems disconnected from the happiness and sorrows of the citizens.
“It has been seven months. Yes, we hear long speeches, but there is zero work,” said the BJD President.
Shri Patnaik pointed out that prices of groceries, medicines, dal, edible oil, and other household goods are skyrocketing, making life difficult for the common man in the State.
He emphasized that farmers are committing suicide every day due to crop losses caused by unseasonal rains. “On top of this burden, it feels like a slush pile. Yet, the leaders spend their time on self-promotion,” he remarked.
“People are feeling restless in the markets every day. Mothers and farmers are crying, but this government is on deep sleep,” the former Chief Minister alleged.
The BJP government, he alleged, came to power by making false promises and telling lies. He further noted that the BJP secured power with fewer votes than the BJD.
Taking a jibe at the ruling party, Shri Patnaik said, “Double engine, double ‘mada’ (blow). The double-engine government is hitting people from two sides — price hikes and GST.”
He alleged, “The BJP-led central government has imposed GST on every product. Poor people are bearing the brunt, paying more GST than ever before.”
Criticising the government’s performance, Shri Patnaik said, “The BJP had shown a rosy picture in its trailer. But the film that followed is ‘MM (Mohan Majhi) Sarkar—Mahanga Mada (price rise) Sarkar.”
The BJD supremo thanked the large number of party workers who joined the protest against price rises. He stated that the protest by four and a half crore Odias would expose the real face of the BJP government.
BJD MLAs and senior leaders also addressed the rally, announcing that the BJD would take to the streets and organize similar protests across the state against the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.
While reacting to BJD’s protest rally, senior BJP leader and Food Supply Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said the regional party is staging drama over the price rise. Prices of essential commodities, including pulses, edible oils, and vegetables, are lower in Odisha compared to other states, he claimed.
Taking a dig at Naveen Patnaik, Shri Patra sought to know as to how many times the BJD Chief had visited the fields in 24 years when he was CM.