New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said he decided to ‘sacrifice’ his good relations with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for ‘the welfare of Odisha’.
He said this during an interview with news agency ANI while responding to a question over the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) decision to not ally with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) – despite him sharing a good relationship with Patnaik – for the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state.
As the Lok Sabha elections enter its final phase, the PM is confident of his party returning to power at the Centre, and forming a government in Odisha.
He, however, said in politics, relations between leaders should be good.
“We have good relations with the leaders of all the political parties of India, and in a democracy, we do not have enmity. Now the question is whether I should maintain my relations or worry about the fate of Odisha. I chose to devote myself to the bright future of Odisha and if I have to sacrifice my relations for that, I will sacrifice them and after the elections, I will convince everyone that I have no enmity with anyone,” he said.
The PM went on to add that after the elections, he will convince everyone that he harbours no enmity with anyone.
Modi also sought to launch a scathing attack on the Naveen-led state government by saying that a coterie has taken over the entire system in Odisha which has come on the way of the state’s growth.
Modi also invoked the Odia Ashmita (self-pride) issue and said, “It is a question of the authenticity of Odisha. Odisha has so many natural resources. It is sad to see the poor people of such a prosperous state. Odisha is among the prosperous states of India. It is bestowed with such natural resources, but it is also in the list of states with many poor people. The government is responsible for this. That is why the people of Odisha should get their rights. Odisha should get its identity,” he added.
Patnaik, who has been in power as the chief minister since 2000, is seeking a record sixth term in simultaneous state elections.
He claimed that a BJP Chief Minister will take oath in Odisha June 10.
“Odisha’s fate is about to change. The government is changing. I have said that the expiry date of the current government of Odisha is June 4. And June 10, BJP’s Chief Minister will take oath in Odisha,” the Prime Minister said.
It is worth mentioning that the exchange of caustic barbs between top leaders of both the parties with the elections coming to a close. Earlier this month, Modi had dared Naveen to name Odisha’s districts and their respective ‘capitals’ without reading them from papers.
Naveen took no time to respond with equal vigour by saying that the PM had ‘actually forgotten’ Odisha over the years.
He cited issues like the Union government’s inordinate delay in allotting Classical status to Odissi music and forgetting to honour the brave sons of Odisha with ‘Bharat Ratna’ to drive home his point.
PNN