JAJPUR (ODISHA): BJP national president Amit Shah on Wednesday blamed the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha for the poverty and backwardness of the state. He vowed to make the state country’s number one province in terms of development if voted to power in 2019 elections. Addressing a gathering of party workers at Panikoili, on the second day of his three-day ca-mpaign in Odisha to str-engthen the party at the grassroots level, Mr Sh-ah said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had fai-led to develop the state in 17 years of his rule.
“Look at the BJP-ruled states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jhark-hand and Maharashtra. You will find development is at peak in these BJP-ruled states. BJP will change the fate of Odisha in five years if it comes to power,” Mr Shah said. Stating that there was no dearth of water or minerals in the state, he said the state was lagging “much because the political administrators here lacked vision and will to carry it in the path of progress.”
“Odisha is also one of the states with largest-growing youth population but it is still far behind in terms of development,” said the BJP president. Mr Shah exhorted the party workers and asked them to work towards winning 120 seats. The BJP will oust the Nave-en government in 2019 polls. The BJP stalwart also talked about the funds that the Centre has so far given to the state under various heads and said BJD has failed in utilising the funds.
Earlier in the morning, Mr Shah visited Binjharpur and held talks with five villagers followed by lunch at the house of Debananda Mallick, a dalit sarapanch. Thereafter, he addressed a meeting at Areie which was attended by Union ministers Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan. On the way to Jajpur, Mr Shah was extended warm welcome at Chhattia, Barchandan, Chandikhol, Neulpur, Nalipur, Baruanh and Jajpur town. In Jajpur town, he also offered prayers at Biraja temple.
