Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Odisha, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has unveiled a political chargesheet titled “25 years of misrule” against the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government.
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, while releasing the chargesheet, accused the ruling dispensation of exploiting Odisha’s abundant mineral resources and neglecting the welfare schemes initiated by the Narendra Modi government.
Yadav launched a scathing attack on the Naveen Patnaik-led government, alleging that the regional party failed to fulfill its promises to the people. He criticized the government’s failure to create irrigation potential and provide cold storage facilities, leading to losses for farmers.
Pointing out flaws in the KALIA scheme meant to support farmers, Yadav noted that only a fraction of the promised number of farmers received financial assistance.
Highlighting the plight of Odisha’s farmers, Yadav blamed the state government’s policies for their low income compared to the national average.
The Union Minister also raised concerns about rising unemployment and mass migration of youth due to significant vacancies in state government departments. He cited reports indicating a surge in migration from Odisha to other states in search of employment opportunities.
Yadav criticized the deteriorating health and education systems, citing a large number of vacancies in medical and teaching positions. He also accused the government of corruption, referring to the mining scam exposed by the Justice M B Shah Commission.
Expressing dismay over the government’s failure to provide safe drinking water to all households despite substantial central assistance, Yadav highlighted rising crime rates and atrocities against women in the state.
The BJP aims to present this “report card” of the BJD government to the people ahead of the elections, seeking support for a “double engine government” in the state.
State BJP president Manmohan Samal and Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi echoed Yadav’s criticisms of BJD misgovernance and expressed determination to oust the current government.
