Amit Shah calls Naveen Patnaik ‘Dictator’

BJP President Amit Shah, who disappointed the cadres and leaders in the state by going soft on Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik during yesterday’s rally in Bhubaneswar, has finally broke his silence and called the BJD supremo as a ‘Dictator’. He slammed the 14-year-rule of the BJD in Odisha, saying the state lagged behind in every aspects.

“Odisha has been deprived of all kinds of development during the dictatorial rule of Naveen Patnaik in the last 14 years. Despite having rich mineral resources, Odisha has become the poorest state in the country. The state lacks in all areas and the development remains nil during the BJD rule,” he said. He raised questions on the development policies of Naveen Patnaik.

Amit Shah also raised the issues of chit fund scam and said the state government ruined the lives of people because of rampant corruption and misgovernance.”The state government has siphoned off hard-earned money of 10 lakh people. It won’t be forgiven,” he added.

While replying to the queries on Shah Commission report on Illegal Mining, Amit Shah said that the government will take proper action when it receives the Action Taken Report (ATR). “Shah Commission report is not related to one state. We will take strong action after receiving the ATR. We will expose the corrupt,” he added. He also opposed the forcible conversion and stressed on the need to get a strong law to prevent such issues.

While answering a question why he was soft towards Naveen Patnaik during the rally, Amit Shah said, “All our party leaders had raised all issues during the rally. It definitely matters what my leaders said. I extend my support to them. I agree with their views and statements. I raised the issues of underdevelopment and poverty in Odisha. But, if you want me to go personal against Naveen Patnaik, then leave it to me. I will decide on that when the time comes”.

While talking about BJP’s prospects in Odisha, he categorically said that his party will form the next government in Odisha alone in 2019 without the support of any political outfit. “We have prepared a blueprint and will work on that with utmost dedication,” he said. He also clarified that it was the Modi Government at the centre, which took the decisions to go for public auction of minerals, but Odisha government is showing as if its own decisions. He also listed the achievements of Narendra Modi government.

Earlier, the BJP President had given a big boost to the party’s membership drive in Odisha by participating in the campaign at Dhauli Giri on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. He sought to crack the whip by asking the leaders and cadres in the state to focus on building the organisation at the grass root level.

Amit Shah asked the party workers to target 36,000 booths in the state to reach a target of 40 lakh members. He asked each BJP cadre to enroll at least 100 members at the ground level.