Even though BJP national president Amit Shah has concluded his tour to Odisha and left for New Delhi, the BJP and the BJD still continue to be engaged in a war of words.
After the BJD called Shah’s language inappropriate during the address of his workers rally here on Friday and termed as the language of Asuras (demons), Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched a scathing attack on the BJD and said the regional party is taking credit for the development programmes funded by the Central Government.
Pradhan said the Central Government has invested heavily in the rice at Re 1 scheme, education, healthcare and infrastructure projects in Odisha and has been providing large amount of funds under the 14th Finance Commission.
“The BJD has also looted the mining resources of the people of the State. They have admitted that mineral resources worth Rs 58,000 crore were looted. The State has even received a lot of flak for this,” Pradhan alleged.
They are Michhua Radhua (rank liars) as they have been lying to the people for a long time and now, the people have come to know about their true colours. That is why they have become jittery and stooped to a low-level using abusive language, Pradhan maintained.
In reaction, BJD spokesperson and Rajya Sabha Member Pratap Keshari Deo said, “We are not sacred. The BJP Government had made many promises like the coastal highway which are yet to see the light of the day. let Pradhan say what he has done for Odisha in the last three years after his induction to the Central Cabinet.”
Minister Damodar Rout also lashed out at the BJP president and said, “Shah is behaving like a Sattabaaz (Gambler); otherwise, how can he say the BJP will jump from 10 seats to 120IJ”
However, the Congress also jumped into the fray and leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said a murder case is pending against BJP president Amit Shah.
In reaction, Minister Pradhan said, “ Amit Shah did not barge into anybody’s home and looted their valuables. But the Congress Rajkumar (Rahul Gandhi) and his brother- in-law will go to jail for looting people’s land.”
In reply, Mishra said only in an authoritative Government, the political opponents are sent to jail.