In a counterattack on the BJP, the BJD on Saturday claimed that 30,000 people got jobs in 20 mega projects in the State during the last 17 years and dared saffron party leaders to come to Odisha to see the pace of development.
“A total of 20 mega projects establised in Odisha during the last 17 years where over 30,000 people got jobs. However, the national project, IOCl refinery at Paradip, has employed only 225 persons from Odisha, making fun of the unemployed,” alleged BJD spokespersons Dr Sasmit Patra and Sulochana Das at a Press meet here.
They claimed that Odisha has emerged third, next to Maharashtra and Gujarat, in attracting investments to the country. “While Maharashtra has attracted highest 11 per cent investments, Gujarat is second with 8 per cent and Odisha third with 7 per cent. While development had occurred in Maharashtra and Gujarat much before the BJP came to power, how can the party take credit for the achievement,” wanted to know the two.
They too claimed the Odisha has recorded economic growth more that the national average. Odisha has posted 8 per cent economic growth against 7 per cent at national level, they said.
“We now request BJP leaders, who say ‘go to Odisha to see poverty’, should come to Odisha if they want to see development,” said Patra.