Shah on mission to conquer 'Kalinga'

Shah is scheduled to address a gathering of one lakh people in Bhubaneswar on January 6

After a series of victories in Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is planning to take on Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal government in Odisha. BJP President Amit Shah is scheduled to address a gathering of about 100,000 people in Bhubaneswar on January 6.

"The role of the BJD government has been exposed in scams such as discretionary land allotment, chit fund scam and mining scam. We will take these issues to every constituency of the state through a special drive. Amit Shah will kick off the campaign during the Maha Sangram rally, scheduled for January 6," Bijaya Mohapatra, senior party leader, told reporters here. Shah, during his two-day stay in the state, will take stock of the party's membership drive.

The leader said cancellation of land allotment orders by Patnaik was eyewash. "The Taradatt panel report has recommended cancellation of the allotments under the discretionary quota. The government did not provide adequate data. This suggests the government is still trying to hide the irregularities in the scheme. The state exchequer lost crores of rupees due to blatant misuse of power in allotment of land and houses. The government, therefore, has lost its moral authority to rule," Mohapatra added. The BJP is also planning to rake up the chit fund and mining scams in the rally. "We will raise the issue of chit fund scam, which has affected million of Odias. Similarly, we will tell the people about corruption in mining cases," said Mohapatra.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a BJD MLA and MP in connection with chit fund scam. In mining scam, the Shah Commission had recommended a CBI inquiry against 14 companies, despite the state government denying anything illegal about mining operations.