Dharmendra Pradhan: Odisha CM terrorising, misleading people

BHUBANESWAR: Senior BJP leader and Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday charged Odisha chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik of terrorising people out of the fear of loss in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.

“Arguments, discussions and differences are common in a democracy but when top leaders start terrorising people, it exposes the fear. The CM is trying to mislead and terrorise people by spreading canards that all the welfare schemes will be stopped, if BJP’s ‘double engine’ government is formed in the state,” remarked Mr Pradhan.

He added that the ruling BJD is so jealous of PM Modi that it is depriving the people of Odisha from the benefits of Central schemes like Ayushman Bharat Yojana. It also did not give the list of farmers to the Centre for implementation of PM-Kisan scheme in the state.

“We have promised to the people of Odisha if the double-engine government come to power, poor will get five kg rice, half kilo dal and half kilo salt at the cost of Re 1 and the announcement has caused fear in Naveen,” said Mr Pradhan while taking a jibe at the BJD chief.

State BJP in-charge Arun Singh clarified that no scheme of the state government will be stopped as apprehended by the BJD chief.

“We will provide interest-free loans to farmers and procure paddy directly from their fields and houses after coming to power in Odisha,” says state BJP in-charge Arun Singh.

Besides, Rs 1 lakh crore will be spent on irrigation in five years once BJP comes to power in the State. Loans of self-help groups will be waived and 17 lakh women will be given smartphone, Mr Singh added.

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