BJP Releases Booklet Criticizing Odisha’s BJD Government
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released a 60-page booklet criticizing the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in Odisha. The booklet, titled “Kete Dina Au Sahiba, Parivartan Aniba” (How long do we tolerate it, it is time to bring a change), accuses the BJD government of failing to improve the lives of the people of Odisha and highlights various areas of concern.
The booklet particularly targets Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his aide VK Pandian. Pandian, who is of non-Odia origin, is accused of being responsible for many of the government’s failures. The BJP has also highlighted Pandian’s security cover, which comprises 74 personnel, and questioned its necessity.
The booklet cites the government’s failure to raise farmers’ living standards, lack of safety for women, regular migration of youth for jobs, and deteriorating health services. It also attacks the government’s record on irrigation, education, drinking water, and malnutrition among children.
The BJP has made Odia pride a poll plank, highlighting Pandian’s non-Odia background. The party has moved the Election Commission of India (ECI) last month seeking the withdrawal of “unnecessary security” given to him.
Union minister Bhupender Yadav, who released the booklet, said the BJD’s popularity has waned over the years as the party has done little for development and public welfare.
“…The BJD government has failed to achieve its promised target of providing irrigation facilities and setting up cold storages in 314 blocks,” Yadav said. “It has also failed miserably in making the state safe for women over the last 24 years. The rise in the number of missing children is another area of concern.”
Baijayant Panda, who is the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Odisha’s Kendrapada, said the booklet was based on people’s feedback.
“Through statistics, we have shown how Odisha is lagging behind other states in every field,” Panda said. “Odisha ranks lowest when it comes to the safety of women. Violence against children is also rampant.”
Pandian and other BJD leaders named in the booklet refused to comment. In a statement, the BJD said BJP leaders have a habit of making false, malicious, and baseless allegations without evidence whenever they sense they are losing an election.
“A similar document like the so-called chargesheet was also done in 2019,” the BJD statement said. “That time, it was also done when Odisha BJP realized it was losing the elections badly.”
The BJD added that Odisha is the only state which has doubled farmers’ income as per Central government agencies. “Odisha has the lowest unemployment rate…but Odisha’s image is being tarnished… In many BJP ruled states, the crimes against women are far more than Odisha,” the statement said. “Odisha BJP has a habit of tarnishing Odisha’s image for their selfish narrow political interests.”
