Odisha Lost 20 Years Under Naveen Patnaik's Rule; BJP to Make Odisha No. 1 state in 5 years: Amit Shah

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Union Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah kick-started the party's campaign by launching an attack on the ruling BJD in Odisha while addressing a massive public gathering in Western Odisha's Sonepur district on Thursday. This was Amit Shah's first visit to Odisha after alliance speculations were put to rest by the top leadership of the saffron party ahead of the 2024 elections.

Shah first arrived at Jharsuguda airport and reached Sonepur in a helicopter to address the public meeting at Rameswar stadium as part of the party's 'Vijay Sankalp Samavesh'.

Shah's visit came a day after the Odisha unit of the party brought out a 60-page chargesheet against the ruling BJD. Amit Shah's visit assumed significance for the BJP as it is eyeing to come to power in Odisha amidst the buzz of a direct fight with the BJD this election.

Trying to strike a chord, Shah began his address by urging the party workers to work hard to ensure Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister again and the party wins 20 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha and also forms the government for the first time in the state.

"There is Lok Sabha election in the country and I visited several parts and reached Odisha. Wherever I went, there were chants of Modi Modi and Modi. The country is going to vote to ensure Narendra Modi becomes PM for the third time. Odisha is also going to vote in Lok Sabha and ensure the party wins 20 seats from the State. The people of Odisha will also vote for the state's pride, language, and culture in Lord Jagannath's land. For the first time, the people of the state will also vote for the BJP so that it forms the government here with a majority," said Shah.

Launching a direct attack on the ruling BJD, Shah said, "The government which could not uphold the pride of its own language, literature and culture, cannot ensure state's development. The government here has not only deprived Odisha of development but indulged in massive corruption through officers in the last 20 years."

PM Modi Ended Several Critical Issues; BJD Tried To Divert Attention From Ram Temple Inauguration Ceremony

While addressing the public meeting, Amit Shah took a dig at the Congress and BJD. He said that the Congress party and its allies were misleading people and delaying the Ram Temple issue. 

"When the people of the country voted for PM Modi, he completed the Bhoomi Poojan and conducted the Pran Prathistha ceremony. The state government here in Odisha tried to divert the attention from the Ram Mandir inauguration ceremony, but the people of Odisha thwarted such attempts," said Shah.

Amit Shah also targeted Congress for the recent statements of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge on the relevance of Jammu and Kashmir for the people of Rajasthan and Odisha.

"They (Congress) do not know that every person and youth of Odisha are ready to sacrifice their lives for Kashmir. The Article 370 had kept Kashmir away from other states in the country. PM Modi ended Article 370, terrorism and naxalism in the country. During Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh times, there used to be bombing by several infiltrators from Pakistan. When the Narendra Modi government came to power, there was a Pulwama attack. India responded strongly by surgical airstrike and cleaned the terrorists by entering their backyard. PM Modi has secured the country and worked for the welfare of the poor," said Shah.

Naveen Patnaik hijacking central schemes, depriving Odisha people of Ayushman Bharat: Amit Shah

The Narendra Modi government at the Centre is working for the poor and free ration is being provided to nearly 80 crore people in the country, said Amit Shah adding that the Odisha government hijacked several schemes including the housing scheme by putting CM Naveen Patnaik's image. The houses are being provided by the Modi government including the free rice scheme.

In Odisha, CM Naveen Patnaik is making big claims that rice is being given by his government. But the reality is that the rice is being provided by the Modi government, he said.

"PM Modi is also providing benefits of Rs 5 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat scheme for health emergencies. But CM Naveen Patnaik fears that if it implements the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Odisha then PM Modi will become popular," he added.

"I urge people to vote for BJP and we will ensure the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme here in Odisha. The people here are deprived of drinking water and textile mills have not been set up. We assure you that we will set up textile mills, fisheries colleges, agro-based industries and ayurvedic medicine factories will be set up in Odisha by the BJP," said Shah.

Puri To Be Transformed Like Kashi Vishwanath

While addressing the public meeting, Shah said that the Odisha government has ruined the sacred land of Lord Jagannath in Puri in the name of tourism.

"I want to assure you that the BJP government will transform Puri like Kashi Vishwanath," said Shah.

According to Shah, Odisha has a lot of scope for development as it has been blessed with natural resources. But the state is plagued with poverty.

"The government here is looting natural resources. We will work for the development of tribals by proper utilisation of natural resources if the BJP is voted to power. The BJP government has done a lot of work for this region. Odisha received Rs 1 lakh 45 thousand crore in 10 years of Congress. But the PM Modi government sanctioned Rs 4 lakh 81 thousand crore in the last 10 years for Odisha. Apart from this, the Modi government also sanctioned Rs 23,000 crore for roads, Rs 65000 crore for railways and Rs 500 crore for airports," said Shah.

Odisha Lost 20 Years Under Naveen Babu's Rule 

"Some people are surveying about the developments in the country in the last 10 years in every state. The team recently met me and when I asked them about Odisha, they said that the last 20 years under Naveen Patnaik are lost years in the history of Odisha's development. Odisha is still at the place where it was 20 years back," said Shah.

Will Make Odisha No. 1 State In 5 Years

According to Shah, there is faster development where there is a double-engine government.

"The time has come for Odisha's youths to participate in global competitions and the time has come to bring industries, and irrigation facilities and develop farmers and labourers. You have given 25 years to Naveen Babu. Give BJP 5 years, and we will make Odisha the number 1 state in the country," said Amit Shah while addressing a public meeting at Sonepur.

Shah further said, "PM Narendra Modi has taken a pledge of Vikshit Bharat and it is possible if Odisha is developed. We need the blessings of Lord Jagannath and people so that BJP gets majority both in Lok Sabha and Assembly in Odisha."