Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was felicitated by BJP leaders at the meeting venue near the airport upon his arrival in Bhubaneswar on Friday to attend the three-day DGP-IGP Conference.
Modi also addressed the party workers and public gathering at the airport. “Today, I have received this chance to visit the land of Lord Lingaraj. I salute this place. I also bow down to Lord Jagannath. I am thankful to the love and affection that I have received here. Till a few months before the elections, political experts had completely rejected the BJP in Odisha. These people were saying that BJP cannot become such a big force in Odisha and can form the government on its own strength. The results came as a surprise for them. People of Odisha had seen the work of central government in the last 10 years and its impact in the state. They knew that BJP is the ideal choice for them and they supported us throughout,” he said.
He also mentioned about attending Odisha Parba in New Delhi and having ‘masala tea’ there. “I wished I had more time to look around the wonderfully organised event, depicting the rich culture and heritage of Odisha,” he said.
Modi also took a jibe at the Opposition Congress. “Agitations have always been taking place. But during the last some time, all of you must have seen a huge change. The sense of the Constitution is being trampled on. The dignity of democracy is being rejected. The people who consider power as their birthright have lost the central power for the last decade. They are also angry towards the people for blessing someone else than them. They are so full of anger that they are conspiring against the nation… They have started misguiding the people to take the nation in the wrong direction… Their shop of lies and rumours has been running for the last 75 years. They have now sped up their mission. Their activities are becoming a huge challenge for the people who love their country… I want to tell everyone that we have to stay alert and keep making the people aware. We have to uncover every lie. These power-hungry people have only lied to the public. They come up with a bigger lie every time… In 2019, the ‘Chowkidaar’ which was a ‘chor’ for them, became honest by 2024. They did not call the ‘Chowkidaar’ a ‘chor’ even once…”
The Prime Minister is set to spend more than two hours at the BJP headquarters here later in the evening for a meeting with MPs, MLAs and party functionaries on party matters and performance of the new government in the state. He will also review various government schemes in Odisha.
Key routes of the city is decked up with towering cutouts of Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is also in Odisha for the next three days. The state BJP office has also been spruced up to welcome the PM with courtyard leading to the conference hall converted into two chambers – one for a photo session with Modi and the other being the dining hall. The prime minister will have dinner with state party leaders after the meeting.
“The Prime Minister would enquire about political state, party organisation and membership drive in Odisha. He will also review implementation of various central schemes for the development of poor in the state and the promises made by the party during the twin elections in Odisha,” said Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari.
Modi will make a night halt at Raj Bhavan and attend the DGP and IG conference in Lok Seva Bhawan on November 30 and December 1.
Earlier in the day, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan shared pictures, depicting festive atmosphere in Bhubaneswar ahead of PM Modi’s arrival. #ModiInOdisha is a different vibe. Modi ji’s parivar in Odisha is eagerly waiting to welcome their favourite leader and family member,” he wrote.
It is for the first time that Modi will have a three-day stay in Odisha from November 29 to December 1.
