Cuttack: In his second rally in Cuttack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that voters can change the fortune of Odisha and stop the ongoing loot in the state under the BJD regime.
“There is one mafia in Odisha who has captured all the sectors. And that mafia is not allowing any competition in the state. After BJP forms government in Odisha on June 10, we will break the backbone of this mafia,” he said, while dubbing the present regime as a ‘low-speed’ government, which has only given mafias instead of development to the state.
Rebuffing reports about hung Assembly in Odisha, he asserted that it is almost certain that the BJP will form government in Odisha with full majority. “Women have come here in such large numbers. First-time voters seem full of enthusiasm. Your enthusiasm and zeal show that after 25 years, Odisha is going to create a new history. On June 10, BJP’s first CM in Odisha will take oath, it is certain. With your blessings, Modi government will take oath for the third time in Delhi…Cuttack is amongst the most historic cities in India. It’s a place to strengthen the resolution of ‘Viksit Bharat.”
“Odisha is tired of the corruption of the incumbent BJD government. What has the BJD delivered? They deceived the poor with chit fund scam. Land, sand, coal, and mining mafias thrive in the state. The MLAs and ministers are also involved in irregularities. How can you expect infrastructure development and proper environment for investment in such conditions. How will there be job opportunities?” he asked, while addressing a huge rally at Cuttack Zilla Ground.
Modi further said that the state government has failed to utilise funds received from the Centre. “Odisha received only Rs 5,000 crore under Congress rule as per the previous mining policy. Since the BJP came to power, the state is getting 50,000 crore as coal royalty. This apart, Rs 26,000 crore has been provided to Odisha under DMF. However, facilities are still inadequate in Odisha. The BJD is looting the state by giving tenders to its own people,” he alleged.
“The deteriorating conditions of an otherwise capable state like Odisha is very unfortunate. The BJD has pushed Odisha into a very sad situation. Hardly there will be any block in Odisha from where people have not gone to Gujarat to get a job. The way the BJD government is mismanaging and looting the people of Odisha has been completely exposed. This election is to punish all those who have destroyed this prosperous state….”
The PM further said that the whole of Odisha is very angry with what is happening with Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri. “People are saying that the ‘missing’ keys of Ratna Bhandar are in Tamil Nadu. Who has sent the keys to Tamil Nadu? Why has the BJD suppressed the report of the commission of inquiry into the missing keys of Ratna Bhandar? I assure the people that once the BJP government comes to power, the entire truth will come out, we will make the report public and the guilty will not be spared and this is Modi’s guarantee. Our service to Lord Jagannath will begin from this work,” he said in an indirect attack on CM Naveen Patnaik close aide V K Pandian, who is a Tamilian.
He further said that electricity bill will become zero once the BJP forms a government here. “PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana will allow you to use up to 300 units of free electricity and also earn from the surplus. The Modi government is focusing on education, skill development, and building a self-reliant India. In the last 10 years, Odisha has received institutions like IIM, IISER Berhampur and Institute of Chemical Technology – Bhubaneswar. Many such institutions have been established. From technology and textiles to ethanol, the Modi government has set ambitious goals in every sector.”
Responding to Modi’s attack, Pandian said, “Before the elections, PM himself used to praise Chief Ninister Naveen Patnaik. But now that elections are there, PM’s language towards the chief minister has changed.”
