Bhadrak: Union minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan announced that all agriculture loans would be waived if the BJP came to power in the state after 2019 Assembly polls.
Pradhan was speaking at a function where former Congress MLA Madhabananda Mallick joined the saffron party with his supporters at Basudevpur in Bhadrak district.
“The BJD government in Odisha has failed to safeguard the interest of farmers. If the BJP comes to power in the state after the next elections, all farm loans will be waived,” Pradhan said.
Launching a scathing attack on the BJD, the Union minister said that unemployment is growing every year and youths in the state are migrating for jobs.
The state has plenty natural resources and skilled manpower, but the BJD government made little effort to create employment opportunity, he added.
Hitting out at Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the BJP leader said the BJD rule was marked by rampant corruption and disregard for democratic practices. A series of scandals, including the multi-crore chit fund and mining scams, have rocked the state during the BJD rule, he said.
Pradhan also hit out at the state government accusing it of publishing misleading advertisements on Biju Swasthya kalyan Yojana (BSKY).
BJP is the only alternative to root out corruption and take the state on a path of growth, he said adding the state would witness rapid development if the BJP remains in power both at the Centre and state.
Former Congress leader joins BJP
Bhadrak: Dharmendra Pradhan, leading a rally of BJP workers at Basudevpur block in Bhadrak, welcomed veteran Congress leader Madhabananda Mallick into the saffron fold, here Sunday. Mallick, who recently quit the party, joined BJP along with hundreds of his supporters.
Speaking about his joining the BJP, Mallick said Congress party has been neck deep in factionalism and that was the reason he left the party.
In the wake of the tragic electrocution of seven elephants in Dhenkanal, Pradhan pointed fingers at forest and environment minister Bijayshree Routray, who represents Basudevpur constituency.
Asserting that development works in the state have been affected by ‘PC culture’, the Union minister lambasted the state government on issues like dynastic politics, unemployment, labour migration and chit fund scam.