Berhampur: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah as seasonal guests while launching a sharp attack on the two leaders at an election rally at Kanishi in Gopalpur Assembly constituency here Wednesday.
Holding the election campaign of his party in Ganjam district, the Chief Minister said the two leaders repeatedly visited the state after the announcement of election dates, but had never visited Odisha when it was hit by cyclones and droughts. They are visiting the state only to seek votes as elections are due, he said.
The Chief Minister said he was always with the people of the state, and will remain with them as he launched his tirade against the two leaders.
The BJP leaders are shedding crocodile tears for the state, he said, and urged people to ask Modi and Shah about what happened to Sitalapalli railway wagon factory and a special status for the state.
The CM told the people to ask them about reservations for women, crop insurance and why Odisha was not getting adequate assistance during floods and cyclones, and why scholarships for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates were stopped.
The CM also asked where the promise of two crore jobs every year and 10 crore jobs in five years had gone. He said they had promised to give jobs to one person from every household, but that was not done.
The BJP leaders were seasonal guests who will come only during elections, make big promises, but will never be seen once polls are over, the CM said.
Naveen said the 4.5 crore people of the state were his family members and he will be with them forever. He said his government has welfare schemes for all categories of people from the cradle to the grave.
The CM said the KALIA scheme had helped 40 lakh farmers, and a list of 20 lakh farmers is being prepared for inclusion in the scheme.
He said it was unfortunate that some people were opposing the scheme and that farmers will give a befitting reply to them. He assured people that he would not allow even a single eligible farmer to lose benefits provided by the scheme.
Berhampur Lok Sabha candidate Chandrasekhar Sahu said the biggest ‘goonda’ of the country, who was ousted from Gujarat, is now telling people to throw Naveen Patnaik into the Bay of Bengal. He said people will elect Naveen in Odisha and others will disappear.
Gopalpur Assembly seat candidate Pradip Kumar Panigrahi asked people to vote for the BJD. Actors Sabysachi, Archita and comedian Prajna performed before the start of the meeting and many BJP leaders of Aska joined the BJD in the presence of the Chief Minister.
Later, a roadshow was held in Berhampur and the Chief Minister went around the Silk City to a rousing welcome.
Berhampur Assembly candidate Bikram Panda, incumbent MLA Ramesh Chandra Chyau Patnaik and BCC Bank President Alekh Choudhury participated in the road show with the Chief Minister.
PNN