Dharmendra hits out at Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, says latter plays emotion of farmers to get their votes
BY Sachitananda Patra
BHUBANESWAR, NOV. 29: Union education minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday launched a no-holds-barred attack on Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik saying the latter always told people blatant lies on the state’s development and hoodwinked voters during every election by making false promises and assurances.
Addressing a public rally at Mandosil village in the bypoll-bound Padampur assembly constituency, Mr Pradhan said the CM had promised the Odisha farmers to double their income and increase the irrigation potential of the state. However, nothing has happened in his 22 years of rule. Rather, the conditions of the farmer have deteriorated.
“We want a permanent solution to the paddy procurement issue in Odisha. At times, the leaders are alleging in the Assembly that the Centre has not been providing the promised money. You have been to Delhi on several occasions and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I have never read in any newspaper about you complaining to the PM regarding the paddy procurement problem in Odisha nor have I ever heard you giving any statement on this beforemedia,” said the Union minister, adding, the CM always played with the emotion of the peasants.
He continued: “In 2015, you (the CM) had assured at a meeting at Sohela in Bargarh district that you would give Rs 100 extra in addition to the money given by the Central government as Minimum Support Price (MSP). You are not paying even a rupee from your pocket for paddy procurement. But, you in cahoots with millers are siphoning off the money meant for the farmers. No syndicate will last for long. Just wait and watch. It has been destined that Kuna Purohit will go to the Assembly. No matter how deep the root of the syndicate may have gone, the people of Padamapur will root it out.”
BJP’s Bargarh Lok Sabha member Suresh Pujari also launched a broadside against the BJD-led government over the recent GST raids at a small trader’s cloth store in Padampur for his connection with the saffron party.
“If you are trying to intimidate BJP workers by sending GST officials, I want to clarify that we are not the ones to get frightened. If you have the courage then try to threaten me and see what would be the consequences. This election may perhaps be the last election for the BJD before 2024. Naveen Babu’s chair has already started shaking. Only 18 months left. In 2024, a new sun will arise and we will construct a new Odisha.”
The BJD is yet to come out with any reactions to the statements made by the two senior BJP leaders.
Stating that the days of the ruling BJD in Odisha were numbered, Mr Pradhan said Odisha will see a new dawn in 2024 with the BJP coming to power in the state.
