By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The BJD has not done anything for the development of Odisha in the last 24 years of its rule in the name of Biju Babu. The photo of Biju Babu, in whose name Shri Naveen Patnaik became the Chief Minister, was not even featured on the BJD banner or flag. The BJD only played politics on agriculture, education, tourism, mineral resources and forest resources and advertised the central scheme in its name, misleading the people of Odisha. The BJD had reduced its profits by selling mineral resources to non-Odisha traders at the price of vegetables and fish.
Since there was no opportunity in any sector, more than 1 crore youth from many families of Odisha were going to other states to work as manual laborers. Especially from Naveen Patnaik’s constituency and Ganjam district, the maximum number of manual laborers were working as manual laborers in other states. Odisha was plagued by law and order, unemployment, women abuse and stagnation in the agricultural sector, and widespread corruption and malpractices in the industrial sector. While there were only nominal ministers, government servants were running the state and looting the treasury. The previous government, by putting the Shah Commission’s recommendations on massive looting of mineral resources in cold storage, encouraged corrupt mine owners, said BJP General Secretary Shri Biranchi Narayan Tripathi in a press release.
Mr. Tripathi mentioned that Mr. Naveen Patnaik, who said that he had come to fulfill Biju Babu’s dream, was only busy with expensive drinks and watching movies on Netflix, which was said by national journalist Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai in his interview. The then Chief Minister Mr. Naveen Patnaik played a role in the Supreme Court for 20 years by paying crores of rupees to big lawyers to falsely protect mineral resources and take away the rights of Odisha. In addition, Mr. Naveen Patnaik and his loyal non-Odisha government officials continued to plunder the culture, tradition and heritage of Odisha. Since the formation of the government at the center under the leadership of Modi ji, the BJP government at the center has focused on Odisha. The central government used to provide huge funds in the railways, food security scheme, housing scheme, electrification, drinking water scheme, skill development, agriculture sector, women and child protection scheme, education and health sectors.
But while Shri Naveen Patnaik launched some of those schemes in his own name, he could not complete some others by diverting them. As a result, a lot of money was returned unspent. The then Chief Minister protected the sand mafia, mining mafia, cow mafia and land mafia. Due to the support of the Central Government and its focus on Odisha, industrialization has increased in Odisha. Due to the increase in the MSP price of paddy and the provision of self-employment to the youth in the state, the number of Dadan has gradually decreased. Biju Babu’s senior party member and associate Shri Srikant Babu accused him of only planting a Kadamba tree in Kalinga Nagar for industrial development. Similarly, since the lease period of various chromite mines in Sukinda area expired, they were also sold to private companies instead of being given to OMC. Will the BJD give an answer to this? Shri Tripathi asked.
The state BJP government is working in coordination with the central government for the overall development of the state. As a result, large-scale foreign and national investments are going to be made in Odisha. The Odisha government and the Chief Minister have made extensive efforts for the overall prosperity. Due to Modi ji’s leadership, Odisha is at the forefront of the development of East India. But the BJD, which is involved in mining corruption, is now crying crocodile tears for the mineral resources of the state. The new MMDR Act will help all the states including Odisha in giving them their due and in the development of the states. While the revenue from mineral resources was 5 thousand crores during the BJD period, it has now reached 55 thousand crores. While the BJD was accumulating its party assets through the DMA fund, it is now being converted and used for the common citizens. Therefore, the BJD is playing such a drama to maintain its position. Mr. Tripathi said that BJD is trying to mislead people about the MMDA Act, which will not succeed.
