Naveen Taunts PM, Invites Him To Swearing-In Ceremony Of BJD Govt

Balasore: Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that he would visit Odisha again after the BJD government’s ouster, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday shot back at the former with derision.

“Yesterday, the Prime Minister had said he would visit Odisha again after the BJD government is unseated. As the BJD, with the blessings of the people of the state has already wrested absolute majority in the third-phase polls, it is my humble request to Modi Ji to grace the swearing-in ceremony of the BJD government as a distinguished guest,” the Chief Minister said while addressing a public meeting at Remuna.

It may be recalled that the Prime Minister had made the remark during his address at the Vijay Sankalp Samavesh in Balasore on Tuesday.

Seeking the response of the people on the medical college and hospital in Balasore set up by his government, Naveen said while the state government has spent Rs 200 crore for this medical college, the contribution of the Centre is only Rs 100 crore.

He also said that a Union minister from Odisha was strongly opposed to this medical college. “The Union minister could not succeed in his move as the state government had sought permission from the empowered committee of the Supreme Court to set up the medical college and hospital,” he pointed out.

The Chief Minister further said that the same Union minister had also tried to stop the Aahar Yojana of the state government, which has provided food with affordable price to lakhs of urban poor. “What kind of politics this is? Is personal interest above the people’s welfare? The people of the land of the legendary Fakir Mohan will give a fitting reply to him and his party,” Naveen maintained.