Orissa will be a model state by 2036: Naveen Patnaik

Orissa chief minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Saturday announced that he would release a vision document in 2016 which will say that the party was committed to building Orissa as a model state by 2036, the birth centenary of the state.

“My government is committed to building Orissa as a model state by 2036. We will release the Vision Document 2036 next year which will have details how to carry the state in the path of development,” Mr Patnaik said while addressing the party’s 18th foundation day here. In his speech, the chief minister alleged the neglect of the state’s interests by the Central government, which the Opposition mocked as a tired “old tune”. “While natural calamities are affecting the state’s economy and hurting farmers, the Central government had continued to neglect the state,” Mr Patnaik said.

Mr Patnaik, the son of the late former CM Biju Patnaik, has been heading the BJD since its inception in 1997. The Opposition Congress and the BJP said there was nothing new in Mr Patnaik’s promises.

“The chief minister has always painted rosy pictures and prepared vision documents many times in the past. The people know how many of them got fulfilled. He is only hoodwinking people,” said Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Narasingh Mishra.

State BJP president K.V. Singhdeo said the ruling BJD had been harping on the neglect by the central government for the last 15 years.

“Naveen is now talking about 2036. I doubt if his party BJD would be existing by then. People have started disbelieving his promises and words,” said Mr Singhdeo.