BJD, Congress lash out at Modi for calling Odisha an example of poverty

PM Modi in an election rally had said that if topics on starvation, illiteracy and unemployment are discussed, people give an example of Odisha.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File | PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File | PTI)

BHUBANESWAR: The BJD and Congress today reacted strongly to the statement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Odisha is known in the country for its poverty and under development. Referring to the statement of the Prime Minister at an election rally at Gonda in Uttar Pradesh, leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra said when somebody gets overjoyed by such an ordinary win, his downfall will also be as sudden.

Besides raising the issue of poverty in the State, Modi had also thanked the people for reposing their faith in the BJP. This shows people want clean and transparent governance, he said. "There is so much poverty in Odisha that if you search for poorest districts in the country you will find them in this state. If topics on starvation, illiteracy and unemployment are discussed, people give an example of Odisha," the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister has forgotten that the BJP was part of the government in Odisha from 2000 to 2009 and AB Vajpayee was also Prime Minister till 2004. "Poverty and starvation in Odisha made international headlines in that period," he said.

Asking the Prime Minister what he has done for Odisha during almost three years he in power, Mishra said instead several schemes for poor and tribals including the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF), Integrated Action Plan (IAP) and KBK have been stopped. He also criticised the Prime Minister for not
fulfilling election promises made by him.

Describing the Prime Minister's statement as unfortunate, BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said Modi should not forget that the BJP was part of the government for nine years in Odisha. He asked if Odisha is a poverty stricken state, why the Prime Minister not given it a special package.

Maintaining that the statement of Modi is an insult to the people of Odisha, Deb said that the BJP should not be under the impression that it is in a position to bring change in the government by winning in 292 Zilla Parishads in the panchayat polls.

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