With its rich natural resources, Odisha has the potential to become the number one State in the country,” said BJP president Amit Shah while addressing a massive rally here on Tuesday.
Shah said Odisha’s iron ore, coal and other mineral resources help the progress of the country, but the State itself remains underdeveloped. “If we use the mineral wealth for the development of the State, Odisha will be the number one State in India,” he said. The BJP president said the Narendra Modi Government has taken a decision to give all the money generated from the bidding process of mines to the State Government for the development of the States. “Jharkhand and Odisha are going to be the biggest beneficiaries of the decision. This is part of the Modi Government’s plan to ensure the rapid development of the resource rich eastern States,” he added.
Though Shah didn’t attack Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unlike his party’s State leaders, he cautioned Patnaik to rectify his Government’s misdeeds before running out of time. He pointed out that just 14 per cent of people in the State have access to safe drinking water while only 22 per cent have toilets at their homes after 14 years of BJD rule. “There are hospitals, but no doctors; schools, but no teachers. If this type of situation prevails in the State, nothing will be changed despite Centre’s effort,” he added.
Calling upon the people of the State to join the BJP, Shah said, “You have seen the progress that the BJP-ruled States have achieved. It is time Odisha joined the list of fast-growing States by voting for a BJP Government.” In his speech, Shah lashed out at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for his remark on BJPs seven months Government in the Centre. “Rahulbaba wanted to know what BJP has done within six month of its term in Centre, but I want to ask inquisitive Rahul that what they have done during their tenures started from Independence of the country,” said Shah adding, “After 60 years of Congress ruling in the country still several villages are yet to get electricity, pure drinking water, employment and other basic necessities.”
Shah said the BJP Government has done so much of things within seven months of its tenure which could not be even thought of by the Congress-led UPA Government. “Our Government has controlled inflation, price rise of essential commodities, steep fall in prices of petrol, diesel and lPG gas. We have launched several campaigns like Make in India to give opportunities to unemployed youths of the country and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to keep India clean. Even the Government has started some schemes like Adarsh Gram Yojana and Jan Dhan Yojana to empower the people of the country financially,” said Shah.
He criticised Congress leaders for making comments on Centre’s move to act upon terrorist in the Arabian Sea. “The previous UPA Government had failed miserably to stop 26/11 Mumbai attack but when our Government successfully intercepted terrorists’ boat off Gujarat coast, the Congress party is criticising us. I am surprised after getting their comments which compelled me to think whether they will contest elections in India or Pakistan,” Shah quipped.