BJD Resorting To Violence In Polls Similar To Bengal: PM Modi

Kendrapara/Balasore: In one of the fiercest attacks on Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in these elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said much like West Bengal, the BJD government has resorted to violence during the elections and that its exit from power is certain.

He said voters are miffed with the Naveen Patnaik dispensation and have decided to dethrone it. He further alleged that there are a handful of officers who have turned a blind eye to this violence, but the anger of the voters will overwhelm their desire to save the Chief Minister.

“Until now I had held back myself from criticising Naveen Patnaik. Naveen babu had been a four-time chief minister and I wanted a dignified farewell for him. But violent activities during polls much like in West Bengal in the last 10-12 days has riled the voters. A handful of officers have turned a blind eye to it. People of the State have decided to unseat this government.  I want to say, ‘Naveen babu, aap jaa rahe ho, apka jaana tay hai’,” the PM said at the Vijay Sankalp rally here.

Later he also addressed a rally in Basta in Balasore district, capping a month-long election campaigning in Odisha.

The key focus of his Kendrapara address was the frontal attack on Naveen Patnaik, who in recent times have remained non-committal on extending support to a BJP-led government at the Centre. In a recent interview, he had accused the BJP of being communal and said this might come in the way from BJD extending support to the saffron party in the event of a fractured verdict at the Centre.

Modi said the recent attacks on party workers and the trend in the first two phases of the polling in the States showed BJD was “worried” about the outcome of the elections.

He said Congress and opposition parties are spending sleepless nights as the ‘lahar’ (wave) for the BJP has become a ‘lalkar’ (challenge) for them after the first two
phases of elections.

Holding the BJD government responsible for rising unemployment and migration, Modi said the voters will not only elect the BJP government both at the Centre and in the State as an alternative but also for growth and prosperity of Odisha.

He said as soon as the BJP government is formed in Odisha, they will roll out Ayushaman Bharat scheme and bring all farmers under the PM-Kisan yojana. He accused the Naveen Patnaik government of posing obstacles in the implementation of the centrally-sponsored schemes and alleged that the ruling party does not care about the development of Odisha and was only interested to cling on to power.

At his rally in Basta, the PM hailed the success of India’s mission shakti. He said Balasore created history when Mission Shakti (anti-satellite missile test) was launched from the defence facilities in the district.

“Balasore’s name has been recorded in history, the anti-satellite missile was launched from this place. The previous governments had shied away from demonstrating the country’s defence capability as they were busy serving the interests of a ”naamdar” family,” the prime minister said.

Asserting that India is the fourth country in the world to have carried out the anti-satellite missile test, PM Modi said, “We have emerged as a super power after having achieved supremacy in land, water and air.”

Hitting out at the opposition parties, he said, “While the whole country is rejoicing the success of the Mission Shakti, the mahamilawatis are unhappy.”