Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday sharpened his attack on the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha, accusing it of engaging in corruption and ruining the state.
PM Modi said the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government has ruined Odisha and trampled the dreams of the state’s youth.
The Prime Minister said this while addressing rallies during his marathon election campaign at Angul and Cuttack in Odisha.
He alleged that BJD leaders have committed massive corruption in the District Mineral Fund (DMF) in the state.
PM Modi said that the Central government has provided Rs 26,000 to Odisha under the DMF funds.
Raking up the issue of missing keys of Ratna Bhandar (treasury of Puri Jagannath Temple), PM Modi said “the coterie that has captured the BJD government and the CM is responsible” for the missing keys for the last six years.
He again promised to make public the commission report on Ratna Bhandar and unravel the truth behind the missing keys issue as soon as the BJP comes to power in the state.
PM Modi also assured that if anyone is found guilty on the issue, he/she will not be spared.
Again, during his address at a public gathering at Cuttack, PM Modi alleged that there was widespread resentment among the people of Odisha over the missing key issue.
He said the next 25 years will be important for Odisha’s development and the state needs to vote for BJP’s fast-paced double-engine government.
The Prime Minister said that his government had allocated a record amount of money for the development of Odisha.
“The state used to get around Rs 5,000 crore under the old mining policy during the Congress rule. But, now the state is getting Rs 50,000 crore under the new mining policy. Besides, the state government has received Rs 26,000 crore under the district mineral fund. But, the corrupt BJD government is misusing the money in Odisha,” PM Modi said.
PM Modi also accused the BJD government of engaging in collecting commissions for every developmental project in the state.
He alleged that the BJD was looting the state by offering tenders to contractors close to the party.
Meanwhile, PM Modi also exuded confidence in the state witnessing a double-engine government.
Notably, Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases from May 13 to June 1. Polling will be held in Cuttack and Angul on May 25.
