Odisha’s Rich Cultural, Mineral Resources & Jagannath Temple Not Safe Under BJD Regime: Narendra Modi

Angul: Continuing his tirade against the BJD government in Odisha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that Odisha’s rich culture and tradition and mineral resources are not safe under the present regime.

“I am pained to see so much poverty in Odisha despite the state being rich in natural resources. Who ruined Odisha? Who trampled dreams of its youth? The BJD government is entirely responsible for this. The Chief Minister’s Office and residence has been captured by a handful of corrupt people. Even small leaders of BJD have now become millionaires. The BJD didn’t let people benefit from the mineral resources in Odisha,” he told a rally in Angul during his third visit to Odisha in a fortnight.

The PM said that Odisha is getting more royalty after his government introduced new mining policy in 2014. “Modi has created a District Mineral Fund… so that a portion of every mineral extracted here is used for local development. The centre has given Rs 26,000 crore under DMF. The money was meant for building schools and laying roads in Dhenkanal region. But here too the BJD plundered the funds,” he alleged.

He further said that even Shree Jagannath Temple is not safe as long as the BJD in power. “They have not been able to trace of the missing keys of Ratna Bhandar in the last six years. The BJD government and close associates of the Chief Minister are hiding something big. The entire Odisha wants to know the findings of the inquiry committee report that the BJD has suppressed. BJD’s silence is further deepening people’s doubt on the issue. I assure you today that as soon as the BJP government is formed in Odisha, the truth will come out. The BJP government will make the investigation report public,” he said.

Modi said that those who are not sensitive to the heritage of Odisha cannot protect it. “Only the children of Odisha can drive the rapid development of Odisha. That is why Modi has given you a guarantee. Form a BJP government here, and the party will make a son or daughter of Odisha the Chief Minister. And you know the date of the swearing-in ceremony, right? June 10th… On June 10th, the double-engine government will take the oath here,” he added.

Coming down heavily on the BJD, PM Modi remarked, “For the first time, the BJD government’s flaws are being exposed to the entire nation. The state government is completely neglectful of tribal interests. We have created Van Dhan Yojana for tribal families, purchasing forest products at MSP. There are over 3,500 Van Dhan centres across the country, with nearly 200 in Odisha, buying over 80 forest products at MSP. But what does the BJD government do? It doesn’t even give you the correct MSP for forest produce. It’s been 25 years, and the BJD government hasn’t implemented the PESA Act for tribal land rights, leaving many issues unresolved.”

He stated that the BJD government has also betrayed farmers of the state. “Even after working hard for their produce, farmers don’t get the fixed Rs 2200 MSP for their paddy as BJD leaders loot them in mandis… It is Modi’s guarantee that if BJP forms government here (Odisha), then like Chhattisgarh, we will increase the MSP of rice crop from Rs 2,200 to Rs 3,100 per quintal. Within two days, money of rice crop will be credited to farmers’ accounts. Besides, BJP will install electric machines at mandis to put an end to ‘katni chatni’,” he said.

“‘Ghar-ghar se ek hi awaaj aa rahi hai – Odisha me pehali baar double engine ki sarkar’ (A voice is coming from every house that for the first time, there is going to be a double-engine government in Odisha)… Today the entire Odisha is thinking that they have given 25 years to the BJD govt but what they have got in these years?…”

He further said that the BJP has devised a significant plan for the women of Odisha. “The Subhadra Yojana will greatly assist every sister in Odisha. Modi is also working to reduce your electricity bills to zero. The PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana is expanding rapidly, with the Modi government providing over Rs 75,000 for solar panels on your homes, allowing you to use up to 300 units of free electricity and earn from the surplus.”

“To ensure a double-engine government in Odisha, elect BJP candidates as MLAs and MPs, and send them to Bhubaneswar and Delhi respectively. Also, I urge you all to go door to door and convey my greetings and respects to everyone,” he added.