Puri: Seeking to keep BJD battle-ready for 2024 polls, its supremo and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaiik on Monday emphasised on women’s empowerment and claimed that the party has the potential to serve the people for 100 years if all ‘mothers’ shower their blessings.
Addressing a mega celebration organised in the seaside pilgrim town on the 25th foundation day of the regional party, Naveen asked party workers and leaders to continue their good work for the state and its people with a focus on elevating the status of women.
“Serve the people and keep the good work going,” the BJD president said, asking partymen to work sincerely for the betterment of tribals, dalits and farmers.
Asserting that BJD has all along been working for the empowerment of women, the Chief Minister said the state and the country will be able to progress only if its women are empowered.
“My sincere request to mothers and sisters to come forward and take the responsibility. With the blessings of our empowered women, BJD will be able to serve the people for 100 years and not just 25 or 50 years,” the Chief Minister said.
Calling upon all those who want to work for the development of Odisha to join BJD, he said Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is a political party of Odisha and working for the people of the state. No national party will keep a state in its agenda, he claimed.
Stating that BJD has become a social movement and is constantly striving to further the people’s aspirations, confidence and self-respect, Naveen said today the party is celebrating 25 years of service to the people of Odisha. “I am indebted to the 4.5 crore people of Odisha who have given us the opportunity to serve them. The Biju Janata Dal is always indebted to the people of Odisha,” he said.
“Our first duty is Our State and People, the interest of Odisha, Development of Odisha, Glory of Odisha, the Language of Odisha, and the Culture of Odisha. BJD is working for the self respect of Odias,” he said.
The second is – Biju Patnaik’s principles, he said, adding Biju Babu was not a leader, but a phenomenon and he was completely futuristic – way ahead of his times. The Party formed based on the path shown by the great leader is right on the path and will always continue to do so.
The third is – transparent and clean governance and the only interest is the development of Odisha and its people. There is no second vested interest for the party, he said.
The fourth is – empowerment of women. Since the people of Odisha blessed us in year 2000, our priority has been the empowerment of our ‘mothers’ and BJD strongly believes that the development of our mothers will take Odisha further. That is why Mission Shakti has become a mass movement in women empowerment, Naveen said
Describing BJD as a social movement, he said it is a movement to further the aspirations, confidence and pride of the people of Odisha and every house needs to participate in this movement. “Help us to build the Odisha of our dreams. In another 12 years, we will celebrate 100 years of the formation of Odisha. I need not tell that where we have reached in the last 20 years. You all and the world knows that,” the CM added.
Talabania, the venue of the celebration, was all decked up for the event with huge tents, banners, gates, flag cards and posters. Over 50,000 BJD workers including office-bearers of district and block units, MPs, MLAs and other elected representatives from across the state attended the function.
Naveen landed at the helipad in the town and went directly to to inaugurate the function and address the gathering in a bid to galvanise the party ahead of the Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections due in 2024.
The district administration made elaborate security arrangements for the day with deployment of large number of police forces
The regional party, which could not celebrate the foundation day properly last year due to the COVID pandemic, decided to hold a grand celebration this year.
