BJD slams Centre on birth anniversary of Biju Patnaik

Rich tributes were paid to Biju Patnaik on his birth anniversary today, while the ruling BJD in Odisha used the day to slam the Centre for halting welfare schemes ignoring the interests of tribals and poor.
Apart from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also joined the people in paying tributes to the legendary leader.
"On his birth anniversary, I pay my tributes to the beloved Biju Babu. He served society with diligence and positively impacted many lives," the Prime Minister tweeted.
"My tributes to the legendary leader Biju Babu on his birth anniversary. He was a true statesman and son of soil," said Oram, while Pradhan said "My reverence to the former chief minister of Odisha Biju Patnaik."

Addressing a function held on the occasion at the BJD office here, party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik lashed out at the BJP-led government at the Centre accusing it of scrapping many welfare programmes.
"The Centre has stopped many welfare programmes ignoring the interest of the people living in tribal dominated and backward areas," Patnaik said.

However, the state government continues to implement the programmes using its own funds and resources to safeguard the interest of the people, he said.
Noting that significant progress has been achieved in different sectors in the state, the Chief Minister said the state has witnessed substantial development since the year 2000 with improvements in infrastructure, increase in people's income, growth in employment opportunities and rise in production and flow of investment.

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Hitting out at the Prime Minister for his recent
poverty in Odisha jibe, state School and Mass Education minister Debi Prasad Mishra said the Prime Minister scoffed at Odisha over poverty, while his followers in BJP spread false information about the state.
"Development achieved in different spheres in the state are being overlooked by these people as they are busy launching false propaganda against BJD-ruled Odisha," he said.
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare minister Sanjay Dasburma alleged that the Centre has all along been attempting to keep Odisha poor.
A host of other programmes were organised across the state to mark Biju Patnaik's 101st birth anniversary.

In the state capital of Bhubaneswar, the Chief Minister flagged off a mini-marathon from Biju Patnaik Park to Kalinga Stadium on the occasion.
At another function, Patnaik garlanded the statue of the legendary statesman in the state Assembly premises.
Another mini-marathon was also organised in Cuttack from Ananda Bhawan, the ancestral house of Patnaik.