Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday slammed the BJP government in Odisha, accusing it of focusing only on long speeches and advertisements rather than real development.
Addressing party workers during the launch of “Jana Jagaran Abhiyan” at Sankha Bhawan here, Naveen questioned various achievements being claimed by CM Mohan Majhi-led BJP government in Odisha. “They call it a people’s government. But where are the people? Long speeches and big advertisements alone cannot bring development,” the BJD supremo remarked.
Naveen stated that during BJD’s tenure, 90% of Odisha’s population benefited from Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. “The current Ayushman Bharat scheme fails to provide medicines or free hospital treatment. Thousands, including mothers, the elderly, cancer patients, and children, face harassment,” he said.
He further alleged that the health system has collapsed. “Chief District Medical Officer posts are lying vacant in 19 of 30 districts. This is the so-called success of the current government,” he said.
Naveen further claimed that seventy lakh women were empowered through Mission Shakti under the BJD regime. “Mission Shakti brought glory to the state across India. The present government has weakened this movement within one year. Mission Shakti mothers are being harassed in banks, and they are not getting work in government offices,” he said, terming it as the biggest mistake of the current administration.
“The mothers will never forgive this,” he asserted.
Naveen, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly, said the BJD in 2000 inherited a state with a loan burden of Rs.18,000 crore, and the government was running on overdrafts. “By 2024, BJD left a treasury surplus of Rs 45,000 crore. The current government is now running on record loans. But now, the government is again running on record amounts of loans,” he alleged.
Naveen also claimed that there was visible improvement in all development indicators, including IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) and MMR (Maternal Mortality Rate), during the BJD government’s tenure.
He further stated that promises to end exploitation in paddy procurement and ensure MSP for farmers remain unfulfilled. “Farmers face exploitation by millers, lack government support, and struggle to access agricultural loans. Irrigation projects, which reached record levels under BJD, have been halted by the current government,” he said.
He concluded by stating that the BJD stands with the people as an opposition party and will always work for their welfare. “The common people are the true masters in a democracy, and the BJD is responsibly fulfilling its role as the opposition based on their mandate,” he added.
