[Watch] BJD Govt In Odisha Derailing Centre’s Welfare Schemes; Its Arrogance’ Must End, Says Dharmendra Pradhan

Cuttack: Dubbing Odisha’s BJD government as inefficient, inactive, insensitive and corrupt, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday accused it of conspiring to derail the welfare programmes like Ayushman Bharat health scheme launched by the Centre.

The senior BJP leader, who took part in a padyatra and several meetings in Mahanga area of Cuttack, said the saffron party will launch a public awareness campaign to tell people about the evil designs of the ruling BJD and the need to protect the interests of the poor.

Accusing the Naveen Patnaik government of being neck-deep in corruption, Dharmendra claimed, “the administration is inefficient, inactive and insensitive. Atrocities against women have been rising during the BJD rule.”

Though BJD has been in power in the state for more than 22 years, it has done little for providing employment and youths are forced to migrate to other states in search of jobs, he said.

Slamming the BJD government for refusing to implement Ayushman Bharat health scheme in the state, the senior BJP leader said the regional party is afraid that it will increase the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the state.

“It is a matter of serious concern as lakhs of poor people are deprived of the benefits of the scheme,” he said, alleging that there is a conspiracy to derail the welfare programmes of Modi government.

Accusing the ruling BJD of having turned highly arrogant after enjoying power for a long time, Dharmendra said serious steps need to be taken to break this arrogance and BJP will undertake a massive awareness programme throughout 2023 to foil the designs of the regional party.

Referring to Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana (PMAY), the Union Minister claimed that the infamous double murder in Mahanga took place after a BJP worker tried to expose corruption in the programme and a ruling party leader was allegedly involved in the crime.

Asking party workers to work hard for strengthening the organization at the booth level, the senior BJP leader said that the message of Modi should reach every household in the state.

Claiming that PM Modi’s popularity has been rising in Odisha, Dharmendra said the benefits of the Centre’s welfare schemes must reach the poor and downtrodden.