Dharmendra Pradhan flays BJD government for unkept poll promises

Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday slammed the Biju Janata Dal (BJD)-led Odisha government over Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's claim that they have fulfilled their poll promises.

"It is the biggest lie that the Odisha government has fulfilled all poll promises in the last five years. The government has completely failed to even provide basic facilities to the people," Pradhan told reporters here.

He said Patnaik has mastered the art of taking credit for schemes being implemented by the Central government.

"While the State government claimed that it has converted 20 lakh kutcha houses into pucca houses in last five years, 17 lakh houses are constructed under Central government schemes. But, Naveen Patnaik is taking credit for this," said the Minister.

He said the State government has failed in providing drinking water, irrigation facilities, employment, and social security to the people.

The Chief Minister, who reviewed the implementation of the 2014 poll promises at the Council of Ministers meeting on Tuesday, claimed that the State government has fulfilled the promises made to the people of the state.

Reacting to the allegations, BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said Pradhan is a "habitual liar".

"Dharmendra Pradhan doesn't have the courage to talk about BJP's manifesto. He is a habitual liar. While the BJP manifesto promised to provide special category status to Odisha, it has failed to do so," Patra said.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to organise 'Vijay Sankalp Abhiyan' from March 10 to March 17 to reach out to the people across Odisha and apprise people about their policies.

BJP state general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said the party workers will take a pledge to bring Narendra Modi back to the Centre and the BJP in Odisha in the 2019 elections.

"The 19 years of misgovernance is enough. Now, there is high time to change the government in Odisha," he said.

--IANS

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