BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday made a mockery of opposition parties’ allegations and called upon his party workers to give a befitting reply to them during the 10-day Jansampark Padyatra he launched here on the day.
“Some parties are spreading false propaganda about the Odisha Government. You face them strongly by telling people about Central negligence and apathetic attitude towards Odisha. People have always discarded them and will do so in coming days,” said Patnaik while inaugurating the campaign at the Mahishakhal slum here.
Claiming that his Government has been awarded by the Union Government and the World Bank for its good performances, the Chief Minister said, “Our aim is to make Odisha No. 1 State. We are working for the Maa, Mati, Manisha (mother, soil and people) and will continue to do that. We will go to the people to make them aware about our various developmental activities.”
Party vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra said the Jansampark Yatra would be held in the ward, block and district levels till October 11 when workers would tell people about welfare schemes of the State Government and apathetic attitude of the Union Government towards Odisha on various issues, including conferment of Special Category State status.
Workers would also raise issues of frequent hike in petrol and diesel prices and lifting of subsidy from cooking gas, he said.
The meeting presided over by Ekamra MlA and Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda was attended by Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Patsaini, MlAs Bijay Mohanty and Priyadarshi Miahra and city Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena. About 10,000 workers and supporters attended the programme.