Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during election rallies in Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Jagatsinghpur. Shah accused Patnaik of disrespecting Lord Jagannath, questioning the whereabouts of the original keys to the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of the Jagannath temple. He suggested that duplicate keys might have been made, and challenged Patnaik to address this issue.
Shah predicted a significant political change in Odisha, stating that on June 4, Naveen Patnaik will no longer be the chief minister.
He emphasized that the new chief minister will be a young, Odia-speaking devotee of Lord Jagannath. Shah highlighted that it has been 25 years since Odisha had a chief minister who could communicate fluently in Odia, promising that the new leader will bring this change.
The Union Home Minister argued that Odisha should be governed by its people rather than bureaucrats, referring to them as “Babus.” He urged voters to support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by pressing the lotus button on the voting machines. Shah claimed that this election is about the pride of Odisha, focusing on the state’s language, culture, literature, and art.
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Shah criticized the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party’s 25-year rule, calling it fruitless for the people of Odisha. He blamed Patnaik for the state’s persistent poverty despite its rich mineral and water resources.
According to Shah, the benefits of these resources, such as mines, contracts, and jobs, have been given to people from Tamil Nadu rather than locals. He suggested that Patnaik should have contested elections in Tamil Nadu instead.
In a scathing remark, Shah labeled Patnaik’s regime as a “government of jholas” (sacks), accusing him of taking credit for schemes initiated by the central government. Shah claimed that the free rice provided by the Modi government is repackaged in sacks with Patnaik’s photo, misleading people into thinking it is a state government initiative.
Shah’s comments reflect a strong push by the BJP to challenge the long-standing rule of the BJD in Odisha, promising a new leadership that aligns closely with local identity and pride.
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