What is Mission 120? Fuel Prices or Value of Rupee, BJD asks BJP
ONI Bureau: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has hit back at BJP President Amit Shah, who launched a sharp attack on CM Naveen Patnaik and Odisha Government during his one-day Odisha visit today. While accusing the BJP of imposing an undeclared emergency in the country, the BJD leaders asked whether BJP’s ‘Mission 120’ is linked to fuel prices or value of Indian Rupee.
“The petrol and diesel prices are rising everyday. There is no respite for the common people. Value of Indian Rupee against the US Dollar is declining. Either of them may reach 120 sooner or later. Is that BJP’s ‘Mission 120’? There is no ‘Achhe Din’ what common people were promised in 2014”, BJD took a dig at Amit Shah.
“The BJP, which failed in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh despite ruling the states for over 15 years, is claiming that it would make Odisha No. 1 in 5 years if it comes to power. BJP can’t bring any changes. It just misleads people with Jumlas. They failed to fulfill the aspirations of farmers on MSP of Paddy. Their ‘Ayushman Bharat’ scheme excluded 9 lakh families or 50 lakh people in Odisha, which forced our government to launch its own healthcare scheme, Biju Swasthya Kalyana Yojana. In addition, we provided additional Rs 2 lakh health coverage to women in BSKY. It’s BJP, which is playing politics, not us. We are concerned about the interest of our people,” BJD leaders said.
Coming down heavily on Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJD terms PM Ujjwala Yojana a “big scam”. “Out of 30 lakh beneficiaries under PMUY, 24 lakh are not availing the refill for second time. Do these beneficiaries really exist? If yes, then who is availing the LPG refills in their names? The Petroleum Minister must answer,” BJD said.
On the issue of central schemes, BJD leaders said Amit Shah is adding insult to injury after closing down 8 schemes and reducing assistance in 33 more central schemes. On the issues of atrocities on women, BJD says situation remains precarious in various BJP-ruled states such as Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. “Crime against women is a national phenomenon and we need to fight it together instead of playing politics over it. Politicising is such a sensitive issue is highly condemnable,” the party said.
“Women are safe in Odisha as compared to BJP-ruled states and State Govt has launched many schemes such as Mission Shakti for women empowerment,” BJD added.
On the issue of patronage to criminals in Odisha, BJD took a dig at Dharmendra Pradhan by raising questions on his alleged links with D-Brothers and allotment of petrol pumps to Gangster Tito. The party also raked up the murder of Chhatrapur BJD Councillor Laxmidatta Pradhan by BJP workers and then attack on Minister Susanta Singh’s brother during Bijepur bypoll, which led to the death of his driver and BJD worker Dileswar Sahu. “People in Odisha know how a senior BJP leader helped the murderers of Chhatrapur Councillor hide at a guest house in Uttarakhand,” the party said asking BJP not to teach morality.
“BJP is far away from reality and issues relating to Odisha whether Mahanadi, Polavaram, MSP of Paddy, special status for Odisha or cut in central assistance. On the other hand, CM Naveen Patnaik has put Odisha on the path of development in the last 18 years. Although Amit Shah tried his best to enthuse his workers, that won’t have any impact on people of Odisha as they know the truth,” BJD leaders said.
BJD General Secretaries Dr. Arun Sahoo, Sanjay Dasburma and Spokesperson Dr. Sasmit Patra held the press meet today.