Amit Shah’s Odisha Visit On June 17 Postponed In View Of Cyclone Biparjoy

Bhubaneswar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Odisha scheduled on June 17 has been put on hold in view of the extraordinary situation caused by Cyclone Biparjoy, which is expected to land near Jakhau Port in Gujarat on Thursday.

Announcing this at a press meet in Bhubaneswar, state BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said the Central government is keeping a close watch on the situation arising out of Cyclone Biparjoy, which is heading towards Gujarat.

The Home Minister is extremely busy as the situation in Gujarat, where more than 40,000 people have been evacuated to safe places, is being reviewed constantly and steps are being taken to minimise the damage due to the cyclone, he said.

In view of the prevailing situation, Shah’s visit to Odisha scheduled on June 17 has been postponed, Harichandan said. The senior BJP leader was slated to attend programmes in Dhenkanal as well as Cuttack and Kendrapada during his visit as part of the saffron party’s month-long Maha Jansampark campaign.

Fresh date for the Home Minister’s visit to the state will be announced soon when the situation related to the cyclone turns normal, he said.

BJP national president J P Nadda’s visit to Kalahandi in Odisha scheduled on June 22 remains unchanged and the party chief will attend programmes in the state as per schedule, he added.

The Odisha unit of the BJP has planned a massive public outreach programme, which would include public rallies by the party’s top leaders such as PM Modi, Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Nadda, to keep the party ready in case the assembly elections, due in May 2024, are advanced.

This is part of the month-long pan-India campaign launched by BJP on May 31 with an aim to connect with 1,000 notable individuals, who are distinguished by the receipt of civilian awards like Padma awards or the President’s medals during their service, from each Lok Sabha constituency. Over 51 huge rallies, public meetings at more than 500 places, and over 600 press conferences in over 500 Lok Sabha and 4000 Assembly constituencies will be conducted till June 30 and over 5 lakh distinguished families will be contacted, BJP sources said.