Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil the report card on the NDA government’s performance in the past four years during his one-day visit to Cuttack Saturday.
Addressing media persons here Friday, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra while revealing the prime minister’s agenda, said a number of welfare schemes has been implemented during the past four years ranging from Jan Dhan Yojana to New India programme.
At least 55 per cent of all the new bank accounts opened in the world in the past four years were in India, he claimed.
Stating that the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) is very significant in Odisha’s context, he said none would be left without a roof by 2022.
“Both PM and BJP president Amit Shah have always accorded priority to Odisha. That is why Modi has selected Odisha to put out his report card,” Patra said.
Attacking the ruling BJD in the state, the senior BJP leader said that even after ruling the state for the past 20 years, chief minister Naveen Patnaik was still asking questions of others. “I would like to ask Naveen babu very humbly to present his report card of his 20-year rule. Ruling merely for four years, Modi is presenting his report card every year.”
On the Mahanadi issue, Patra said the Union government wanted to resolve it through mutual discussion, but the Naveen Patnaik government had politicised it.
As the CM of the state, Naveen, on the floor of Assembly, had admitted the failure of his government and said 53 per cent of the Mahanadi water was going to waste, but he is now blaming the Centre on the issue, he said, asking, “Is it not double standard of Naveen?”
Commenting on the issue of hike of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy, Patra said, “The NITI Aayog is preparing a formula, which will be executed from the upcoming Kharif season.”
The BJP spokesperson, however, avoided questions on the fuel price hike.
Reacting to the allegations of BJP, BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said, “Between 2000 and 2018, the Chief Minister has always presented his report card before the people of Odisha. He has also passed in 2004, 2009 and 2014. And you will see the same in 2019. So the mandate of the people of Odisha speaks volumes.
“Question now arises what report card the Modi government is going to put forth. Be it price rise of commodities and fuel, Mahanadi issue, BJP has failed in each and every issue. The people of Odisha will decide on the veracity of BJP’s report card to be presented tomorrow,” said the BJD leader.
Reacting to it, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Niranjan Patanaik said, “Modi has been presenting his report card for the past four years. Which one is true? What promise given in BJP’s election manifesto has been kept by him? He has betrayed the people of India.”
Patnaik further said the state Congress will observe Biswasghatak Diwas (betrayal day) Saturday, protesting against Modi’s failed promises.
No impact of visit: Naveen
BJD President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday said that PM Narendra Modi’s visit will have no impact on the BJP’s prospects in Odisha and also on the people. On being queried if he (Naveen Patnaik) thinks PM Modi’s repeated Odisha visits will make BJP stronger in Odisha, he said, “I don’t think so.” He also retreated that BJD will continue to maintain equidistance from both Congress and BJP.
