Odisha Govt Cheating People About Sujal Mission, Says BJP; Saffron Party Jealous, Replies BJD

Bhubaneswar: The BJD came down heavily on the BJP for criticising Sujal Yojana of Puri. The land of Lord Jagannath became the first city in India to get citywide ‘drink from tap’ water for 24 hours with 100 per cent metered household connections.

Terming the attack by BJP general secretary Golak Mohapatra as a case of sour grapes, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said Sujal Yojana has transformed Puri and placed it on the world map alongside Los Angeles and Singapore.

“We had thought BJP leader Golak Mohapatra would consider himself as an Odia first and then a BJP party person. We had hoped as an Odia he would feel proud for such a national achievement by Odisha for the people of Puri but unfortunately he is focused on giving false, baseless and concocted statements and playing cheap politics over such a historic project for Puri’s transformation,” said Mohanty.

Addressing media persons earlier in the day, Mohapatra had alleged that the State government is telling lies about the scheme. “On October 13, 2020, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had launched a scheme in Puri promising safe drinking water from tap to every household. Again the CM launched ‘Sujal-Drink From Tap Mission’ in Puri yesterday. Are both the schemes are same or different,” questioned Mohapatra.

“In the land of Lord Jagannath, the Odisha government is misleading the people by spreading lies,” he added.

Mohanty said Mohapatra and Odisha BJP are jealous and intolerant to the development of Puri and its people. “It seems that due to their negativity towards Puri and its people probably, they are criticising and trying to dilute the good work that has been done through Sujal programme for the people of Puri,” added Mohanty.