Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said that Odisha’s pride and language are under threat.
Speaking to a national news channel during an interview with it, the Prime Minister said, “Odia language and Odisha’s asmita (pride) are under threat. I don’t think Odisha people will tolerate it for long.”
When asked about the failure of the alliance talks with the BJD, Modi said, “The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has been giving us issue-based support. Several other parties have also done the same. However, we have a different relation with the BJD in Odisha.”
Modi further said, “Despite being richly endowed with mineral resources Odisha is lagging in several aspects. It should have become the No. 1 state in the country, but where is it today?”
“Therefore, I think that it is time that the BJP should get an opportunity to serve the people of Odisha now. If we get the chance, we will take Odisha to the pinnacle of development,” he added.
It is worth mentioning here that the Prime Minister’s remarks came at a time when several Odisha BJP leaders have been raising the issue of Odia asmita (pride).
