Congress, BJD demand PM’s apology over poverty remark on Odisha

Highlights

• Congress and BJD demanded unconditional apology from PM Modi in Odisha Assembly for poverty remark
• The House was adjourned two times, till 3 pm

Bhubaneswar: The Congress and the BJD created a ruckus in the state Assembly demanding an unconditional apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his Odisha poverty remark made at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh on Friday.

Both the parties joined hands to protest against Modi’s anti-Odisha remark.

As soon as the House assembled for the day, Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati and several other members rushed to the well shouting slogans protesting the Prime Minister’s remarks.

Alleging that Modi’s statement is an insult to the people of Odisha, they demanded an apology from the Prime Minister for his remark on Odisha.

Unable to run the House, the Speaker adjourned it till 11.30 am. Again it was extended till 12.30 pm and till 3 pm.
BJD MLAs and ministers staged a demonstration at the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Assembly premises.

What had Modi said about poverty in Odisha?

While addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh, Modi on Friday said, “There is so much poverty in Odisha that if you search for the poorest districts in the country, you will find them in this state…I am sure if the poor people of Odisha have stepped forward in support of the BJP, nothing will remain for other parties in the coming days.”