BARIPADA/BALASORE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that he heard from his associates that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's health has deteriorated a lot in the past year. Modi said many suspect that a coterie of top officers surrounding Patnaik are responsible for it.
“The BJD has already ruled the state for 25 years. People are fed up with the corrupt government and they have decided to elect a BJP government. After coming to power in the state, the BJP government will order a probe on those responsible for the deterioration of Patnaik's health. Besides, it will investigate all the scams and scandals in the state,” the PM announced.
Accusing the Odisha government of corruption, Modi asserted that the people have decided to put a full stop to the present Biju Janata Dal (BJD) rule.
Modi, while addressing separate poll rallies in Mayurbhanj and Balasore parliamentary constituencies, said, "After five decades, the people of India are going to return a party for the third consecutive term with an absolute majority. This is an attestation of the people's faith in our good governance, forward-looking policies and delivery of public services."
Like in all his poll rallies, the PM devoted some minutes to his government's economic reforms that catapulted the country from the 11th rank to the fifth rank among the world economies. He announced that India will shortly emerge as the world's third largest economic power.
The Prime Minister also retold the stories of his government's success in poverty alleviation, providing free rations to the poor and gas cylinders to women and economic empowerment of female folks through schemes like the Lakhpati Didi Yojana.
Modi said culprits involved in the looting of Odisha's resources and money of small depositors will be arrested and all their ill-gotten wealth will be recovered.
In order to woo the tribal voters and women, the PM said President Droupadi Murmu, who hails from Odisha's Mayurbhanj district, is an example of the BJP's effort to empower women.
"Your daughter (Murmu) is now heading the three commands of India's defence establishment. She is the symbol of the BJP's commitment to uplift women, socially and economically," Modi observed.
