Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Thursday mounted a scathing attack on Odisha BJP leaders, claiming that many of them, including the Chief Minister and MPs, are in New Delhi while the state battles severe floods.
“Are Odisha BJP leaders feasting in Delhi amid the horrors of the floods in Odisha?” Naveen sought to know in a post on X, while questioning their absence from the state during floods.
The Leader of Opposition (LoP) said the entire state is reeling under flood conditions due to relentless heavy rains, and that the Chief Minister along with BJP’s top leaders and Members of Parliament are currently in Delhi. “In such untimely circumstances, what could be more serious than the safety of their own people?” he stated.
The former chief ministr said people in districts including Mayurbhanj, Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Dhenkanal, Sambalpur and others are facing severe hardships. He expressed distress over reports of multiple innocent lives lost in the floods.
“Instead of standing firmly with the people during such untimely calamity, accusations of government negligence are pouring in thick and fast,” Naveen said.
The BJD chief reminded that ‘Every Life is Valuable’ has been Odisha’s mantra in tackling natural disasters, an approach that earned the state global acclaim. “Yet, the representatives elected by the people — failing to effectively manage the flood situation — are abandoning the people, leaving everyone stunned,” he alleged.
The ex-CM urged the government not to remain “insensitive” and to stand with the people during the crisis.