Bhubaneswar: Mounting a scathing attack on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday accused it of coming to power in Odisha by telling lies and making false promises to people.
Addressing BJD workers during the launch of its annual Jan Sampark Padayatra in Bhubaneswar on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state Assembly said the regional party always stands with the people and sincerely workers for development with a focus on self-respect.
Coming down heavily on BJP, the former Chief Minister said that the new government in the state can change name and colour but will not be able to change history as people of the state are aware of everything.
Accusing BJP of having come to power by making false promises for votes, the BJD supremo sought to know about the promise of providing 300 units of free electricity.
Claiming that BJP made a number of promised to get votes, he also lashed out at the saffron party over the promise of providing Rs 50,000 to women in the state.
Stating that the BJP government has failed to keep the prices of essential commodities under control, Naveen said people of the state are getting to know the real face of BJP.
Attacking the BJP government over law and order situation, the BJD chief claimed that the women are not safe even in police stations, while government employees are also not safe inside Raj Bhavan. “People cannot trust this government any more. Though they won elections by telling lies, they will not be able to win people’s hearts,” Naveen claimed.
Stressing that BJD believes in work, the former Chief Minister said that the previous had taken many steps for the development of infrastructure, health, education and worked for welfare and empowerment of farmers and women.
Claiming that it brought economic stability, he said poverty which was around 70 per cent in the year 2000, has come down to ten per cent in the state. The per capita income has increased and Odisha is ahead of other states where there is double engine government. While Odisha is in a better position than several other states, he said lakhs of people got benefits under BSKY but the BJP government has changed the name, he claimed.
Ahead of launching BJD’s mass outreach programme, Naveen had on Tuesday stated that the regional party can return to power if all workers fight unitedly. “We can form a government again if you fight together against the BJP,” he told party workers. BJD was in power for 24 years at a stretch from 2000 to 2024 before it was defeated in the last elections.
Reacting sharply to Naveen’s remarks, BJP leaders hit back and said the BJD chief should be ashamed of making such misleading statements. People are very much aware that many areas including healthcare and education sectors were neglected during the previous government, claimed senior BJP leader Manoj Mohapatra.
Speaking in same vein, Odisha BJP vice-president Biranchi Tripathy said Naveen made such remarks as he is yet to digest BJP’s victory. People know it well that BJD was painting every area in their own party’s colour for which people kept BJD out of power. With the faith shown by people, BJP is trying to fulfil the promises made before the elections, he said.
The BJP leaders emphasised that over 25 lakh beneficiaries have already received financial assistance under Subhadra Yojana and there is a target to provide assistance to over one crore women. Moreover, the name of BSKY is yet to be changed, while Ayushman Bharat scheme will be launched, they said, adding that under Gopabandhu Swasthya Surakshya Yojana around one crore families will get benefit. Around 80 to 90 per cent of the population will get free healthcare facilities.
Asserting that people have reposed faith in BJP for which the party won majority seats both in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, they said people of the state gave many opportunities to Naveen Babu to serve for 24 years, but his performance was dismal.
