Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today counter attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising central negligence towards Odisha and Odia Asmita.
In a video message, the Chief Minister said, “Nothing will happen on June 10 nor in another 10 years. The BJP can’t win the hearts of the people of Odisha. With the blessings from Lord Jagannath and the love of the people of Odisha, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will form the government in Odisha for the sixth time.”
Shri Patnaik said this while countering PM’s claim that BJP will form government in Odisha this time and the new Chief Minister will take oath in Bhubaneswar on June 10.
“What I remember is that the people of Odisha have known this well for the last 24 years. But Prime Minister, how much do you remember about Odisha?,” he asked.
“Even though Odia has been declared as a classical language, you forgot about Odia language. You have allotted 1000 crores for development of Sanskrit, but nothing for Odia language,” he said.
Shri Patnaik also said to the Prime Minister that he has forgotten about Odissi music too. “I have sent proposals for classical music recognition for Odissi, but you have rejected those twice,” he said.
Stating there are so many brave sons in Odisha, a few of whom the PM named during his election campaigning today, the BJD chief asked, “Don’t any of them deserve the Bharat Ratna? You have given away the Bharat Ratna to so many people, but you again forgot about the great son of Odisha, Biju Patnaik,”
“You promised to double the MSP for the farmers of Odisha and forgot about it. You should have kept the people of Odisha in mind and built the Coastal Highway and you, which also you have forgotten,” the Chief Minister stated.
“Odisha’s natural wealth is coal and you take coal from Odisha but you have forgotten to increase the royalty in the last 10 years,” he told the PM.
Further the CM said to the Prime Minister that he is remembering Odisha only at election time, which will be of no use. Do you remember the promises you made in 2014 and 2019 ?, he again asked.
“People of Odisha remember your promise to reduce prices of essential commodities, to create 2 crore jobs, reduce prices of LPG, petrol, and diesel, provide mobile connectivity to all and reduce & waive GST. The people of Odisha have not forgotten any of these,” he added.
For the first time in the history of BJD, the Chief Minister has attacked the Prime Minister by sending a video message raising several issues related to Odisha.