Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. (Image: PTI)
The Prime Minister also alleged that Odisha’s development has continued to remain undersized as the state government does no trust the people’s capabilities
Prime Minister Narendra Modi challenged Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday, asking whether he could name all the state’s districts and their respective capitals without seeing a paper.
Addressing a public rally in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, PM Modi said, “I want to challenge ‘Naveen Babu’ as he has been the CM for such a long time, ask ‘Naveen Babu’ to name the districts of Odisha and their respective capitals without seeing them on paper. If the CM cannot name the districts of the state, will he know your pain?”
He also noted that the state has a wide range of opportunities for its tourism sector to blossom.
Hitting out at the Congress party, the PM said that by saying Pakistan is a nuclear power, the grand old party creates fear psychosis.
The PM said that he will “repay every ounce” of the state’s people’s trust by “selflessly serving the nation”. He recounted the Pokhran test that was conducted by the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee 26 years ago, this very day.
“The nuclear test filled Indians all over the world with pride…That was the first time India made the world aware of its capabilities. Whereas, Congress keeps threatening its own people. They create fear psychosis in the minds of Indians by reiterating, ‘Pakistan is a nuclear power’,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister alleged that Odisha’s development has continued to remain undersized as the state government does no trust the people’s capabilities.
“Odisha has vast opportunities for the tourism sector to flourish. And, the tourism sector usually has a spillover effect on the overall economy of the region. Your state government is not willing to trust your capabilities, due to which your development remains stunted,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister noted that the Lok Sabha polls are very significant for the people of Odisha. Every vote is crucial for Odisha’s development and India’s prosperity, he added.
“Your single vote will enable a BJP government, bringing a double-engine government to Odisha for the first time,” PM Modi said.
The PM promised the state’s citizens that “under the BJP government, transparency and the reputation of Shri Ratna Bhandar will be restored”. “This is Modi ki Guarantee,” PM Modi asserted.
Noting that BJD and Congress declared Kandhamal a backward district, the PM said, “Modi decided to turn such backward districts into aspirational districts of the country. I monitor the work being done in these districts regularly.”
Earlier in March, the saffron camp had said that it will contest the Lok Sabha polls and the assembly elections in Odisha independently.
Odisha, with 21 constituencies, will go to polls in four phases from May 13 to June 1. Counting of the votes will take place on June 4.
(With agency inputs)
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