Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 6: Appreciating Narendra Modi government which never indulged in ‘discriminatory politics’, BJP president Amit Shah Tuesday assured Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik the Centre would help the state for development.
Indicating that there is ample time for Patnaik to transform Orissa, Shah said the Centre is with the state government for development, he told a rally called ‘Mahasangram Samabesh’ here. Shah’s speech was soft towards the BJD government and the Chief Minister even as he attacked Congress and its vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
While the BJP’s state president KV Singhdeo had claimed that Shah’s speech would ensure sleepless nights for Patnaik, the BJP national president simply made a passing remark on the series of scams and scandals that rocked Orissa.
Criticising the state government’s 14-years rule, Shah said only 14 per cent of people in the state could get safe drinking water, 22 per cent have toilets and 46 per cent of the people live below poverty line.
He said though Orissa was once a power surplus state, the situation has become worse and youths from the state are migrating to Gujarat and Maharastra for jobs.
Underlining that Orissa was rich in natural resources like iron ore, bauxite, chromite, dolomite, coal and other minerals, he accused the state government of failing to utilise them.
Seeking people’s support for BJP, Shah said the Prime Minister has the dream of ensuring inclusive growth in the country.
‘‘The Modi government is determined to ensure the development of the eastern states including Orissa,’’ he said, adding the state has all potential to become the No. 1 state in the country.
In its bid to ensure growth of Orissa and other mineral rich states, Shah said the Centre has decided to go for auction route for leasing out mines.
‘‘Orissa and Jharkhand will get maximum benefits if the mines are put under auction,’’ he said, adding the state government would get the additional revenue generated from auction of mines.
Shah asked BJP supporters and activists to connect with the people. While invoking blessings of Lord Jagannath, Shah assured the people there would be no corruption if a BJP government was installed also in Orissa.