Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s June 2 visit, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited Baleswar on Sunday.
Pradhan inspected some probable meeting venues for the proposed public meeting to be addressed by the Prime Minister. He too attended a party meeting held at the Nocci Business Park at Bampada.
The venues which were visited by the Minister are the Permit Field, the Reserve Police Ground, ITI Ground and a field at Naraharipur.
“I have visited several probable venues for the upcoming public meeting to be addressed by the Prime Minister on June 2. The final decision will taken basing on the joint opinion of the SPG and the district administration,” said Pradhan.
Regarding the meeting, Pradhan said, “Modi will highlight the successes achieved by the NDA Government during the last 26 months. Baleswar is one of six places of the country where the PM will address public meetings.”
District Collector Pramod Das, SP Niti Sekhar, Pradhan’s party colleagues like Remuna MlA Gobinda Das, former MlA Pratap Sarangi, former Minister Manmohan Samal and district president Madan Mohan Dutta and other Government officers were present.
The party meeting held at the Nocci auditorium witnessed party leaders and workers from six organizational districts, Baleswar, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jajpur and Rairangpur. State president Basant Panda too attended.
“Around 2 lakhs of people are expected to come to Baleswar to hear Modi’s speech. Arrangements will be made accordingly. It is great honour for Baleswar to host a programme for PM. Modi is likely to announce something big for the north Odisha in general and Baleswar in particular,” said district president Dutta.
Dharmendra Pradhan came down heavily on the State Government alleging the latter failed grossly to address the basic issues of the State.
“From where the figure of 10 lakh houses constructed for the needy came when a few days ago the State Government had revealed that the number was only 3.5 lakh. It is enjoying power with the Central assistances and schemes and kept up swindling people,” he lambasted.