Naveen criticizes BJP govt’s first year in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday came down heavily on Mohan Charan Majhi Government citing that the BJP Government mirrored more PR activities than progress.

The BJP, after one year in power, claims to be a “people’s government,” but fails to serve the people, relying on speeches and advertisements rather than real development.

The BJD president, Naveen said, “In a democracy, the common man is the master. Today, we are sitting in the opposition party with the support of the people and the BJD is working as a responsible opposition party.”

He added, “It has been a year since the BJP government took charge of Odisha. It is said to be a people’s government, but where are the people? Only long speeches and big advertisements do not bring development.”

“During our government, 90% of the people of Odisha were benefiting from the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. Today, Ayushman Bharat has been started. People are not getting medicine. They cannot get treatment in hospitals without money. Thousands of people are being harassed. Mothers are being harassed, old people are being harassed, cancer patients are being harassed and children are being harassed. The health system is completely in shambles. Out of 30 districts, 19 CDMO posts are vacant. This is the success of the current government,” Naveen said.

“Seventy lakh mothers were empowered through Mission Shakti. The success of this government is to weaken the momentum of Mission Shakti in one year. Mothers are being harassed in banks. Mothers are not getting work done in government offices. Mothers who went to Dubai and Singapore are sitting at home today and are frustrated. Mothers’ self-confidence has been shattered. This is the biggest success of this government. During our government, the Mission Shakti movement brought fame to the state all over India. Therefore, creating obstacles in the empowerment of mothers is the biggest mistake of this government. Mothers will never forgive this,” the ex-CM said.

He added, “During the elections, it was said that the crop rotation would stop. All farmers will get MSP. There are many farmer brothers and sisters among us. Tell me, has the crop rotation stopped? Farmers are now at the mercy of Miller. The government has no fear. Who will the farmers appeal to? Farmers are being harassed in getting agricultural loans. Irrigation was done in record quantities during the BJD era. They stopped the ongoing work. It is the people’s government. But the people are hungry. The people are aware. The government should understand.”

“When the BJD government took charge in 2000, Odisha’s debt was 18 thousand crores. The government was running on overdraft. When we left office in 2024, the government exchequer had a surplus of Rs 45,000 crore. But now the government is running on record debt,” Naveen said.

In 2005-06, the poverty rate in Odisha was 63.83%, but in 2023 it came down to 11.07%. 107.78 lakh people had moved above the poverty line. There was a significant improvement in all development indicators like IMR and MMR etc, Naveen said.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is with the people as an opposition party. It has always come forward for the welfare of the people and the development of Odisha. I hope the leaders here and the workers in the villages will continue to serve the people.