Sambalpur/Keonjhar. Claiming that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will get 310 seats after the completion of five phases of Lok Sabha elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday appealed to the people of Odisha to liberate the state from “Babu-Raj” and Support BJP to form government both at the Center and in the state.
While addressing two election rallies in Sambalpur, Shah said that this time the lotus (BJP’s election symbol) will bloom in Odisha.
BJP has fielded Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from Sambalpur seat. He said, “After the fifth phase of voting, BJP has already got 310 seats. “After the sixth and seventh rounds of voting, we will secure more than 400 seats.” He alleged that the state is ruled by a “handful of officials”. He said that this election will end the current “Babu Raj” in the state. He alleged that despite most of the country’s mines and mineral reserves being located in Keonjhar district, the tribals here have not received any benefits.
Shah claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured that there is no terrorism across the country. The Union Home Minister said, “PoK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) belonged to India and it will remain with us. India will take back PoK.” Attacking the previous Congress government, Shah said, “Congress did nothing for the tribals. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had created a separate ministry for tribal affairs, while Narendra Modi as Prime Minister has worked to eliminate Naxalism in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.” He said Modi has formed DMF (District Mineral Foundation) and given crores of rupees for the development of tribal areas.
“The budgetary allocation for tribal affairs has been increased to Rs 1.25 lakh crore during the Modi government, from Rs 25,000 crore during the previous UPA regime,” the BJP leader said. Shah said the BJP government has set up 740 Eklavya schools where one lakh students are studying. He said about 40,000 teachers have been appointed in these schools.
Shah said that kendu leaf pluckers will get bonus and fair price on their minor forest produce. He also announced setting up of a 500-bed hospital in Keonjhar and another 500-bed hospital and medical college in Sambalpur. He said that provision of PF (Provident Fund) will be made for Kendu Patta workers. Shah also accused the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in the state of insulting the pride, language, culture and tradition of Odisha. He said, “If BJP comes to power in the state, it will make a young, energetic, hardworking and progressive Odia ‘Bhoomiputra’ the Chief Minister.” He said that the new BJP government will be one and a half. Will provide jobs to two lakh people in a year.
Shah said, “(Chief Minister) Naveen (Patnaik) Babu is imposing ‘Babu Shahi’ on Odisha and attacking the pride and dignity of the people of Odisha. He is strangulating the culture and pride of the state.” Shah urged people to vote for the BJP government to ensure rapid development of the state and preservation of its rich culture. Without naming anyone, he said, “If people vote for BJP, then a Bhumiputra will rule the ‘Utkal land’ and not a Tamil Babu.”
He said, “The BJD government wants to turn the Jagannath temple into a commercial center. Mathas and temples have been destroyed and the four gates of the temple are still not opened to the public.” Shah said, “Even a conspiracy was hatched to stop the world famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath.” Shah alleged that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is leaving no stone unturned to “plunder the mineral resources” of the state. He said that Odisha is rich in mineral resources, but the state does not have a Chief Minister who can protect the resources of the state. The Home Minister said, “The BJD government has also neglected Western Odisha. The BJP is committed to the equal development of all parts of the state.”