The state of Odisha is rich in natural resources, but the people are poor due to corruption, said BJP president Amit Shah while addressing an election rally here on Friday.
Hitting out at the Congress party and BJD, Shah said that the two parties have failed to remove poverty despite being in power for so many years. "People will have to choose between Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP and BJD's Naveen Patnaik in the state assembly polls," he said.
"Even after 19 years rule of Naveen Patnaik, there is still a shortage of water and jobs. People have to migrate to other states for jobs," he said.
Taking a jibe at Patnaik, he said: "Naveen Patnaik did not know how to talk in Oriya. How can he understand the problem being faced by the people in the state?"
"I am in this tribal area after visiting the whole country and wherever I went, there were people chanting slogans in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."
"In Odisha, there have been mining scams, chit fund scams but the Chief Minister did not act against the corrupt people. BJP will punish the corrupt if voted to power in the state," he added.
Talking about development having taken place under Prime Minister Modi, Shah said: "The Centre has given Rs 1,600 crore as district mineral fund to the district in the past five years."
"We have built hospitals for tribal people, and the National Highway 215 and 6 were made four-lane under our government," he said.
Speaking about the security situation in the country, Shah said: "Our government gave a befitting reply to Pulwama terror attack by targeting terrorist training camps at Balakot in Pakistan."
"The Congress party talks about dialogue with Pakistan. How can we engage in talks with those who killed our own soldiers," asked Shah.
The seven-phased Lok Sabha elections have started from April 11 and will conclude on May 19. The Lok Sabha and the Assembly polls in Odisha will be held in four phases. The first phase was held on April 11 and the remaining three phases will be held on April 18, 23, and 29.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)