Sambalpur: Mounting a scathing attack on Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday held these parties responsible for poverty and backwardness in Odisha.
Addressing a public meeting at Rairakhol under Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency, the senior BJP leader said that Congress ruled Odisha for 50 years and then BJD for 25 years.
However, the state failed to see much development in the last 75 years as poverty is yet to be eradicated as BJD and Congress created hurdles on the path of progress, Singh claimed.
Coming down heavily on the BJD government, he said state’s rich culture is in danger as all important documents, manuscripts, art, and heritage have been lost.
Lamenting that even the key of Ratna Bhandar of Jagannath temple in Puri has gone missing, the Defence Minister said a thorough probe will be conducted to unravel the mystery surrounding the missing key of Lord Jagannath’s Ratna Bhandar when BJP forms government in the state.
The BJP heavyweight accused the BJD government of trying to stop the benefits of Central schemes from reaching the beneficiaries in the state. The work for providing pucca houses, toilets, and cooking gas has not progressed much under the BJD rule. Several poor are deprived of availing the benefits of Ayushman Bharat here, he said.
Singh said BJP will take steps to provide pucca houses, safe drinking water and implement Ayushman Bharat Yojana if it is voted to power in Odisha
Stating that India has touched new heights under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Singh said the whole world is now giving due attention to our country.
It was PM Modi who played a key role in ensuring the safe return of citizens and students amid Russia-Ukraine war which was stopped for 4.5 hours, he said.
Asserting that BJP does what it says, the senior leader said promises to abrogate Article 370, construct Temple in Ayodhya, and many others were fulfilled by the party government.
Stressing that the Modi government has been working for the poor and other backward classes, Singh said be it pucca houses, cooking gas, toilets, and other facilities, the BJP government has done a lot to transform the lives of people.
