Union minister Smriti Irani on Sunday accused Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of depriving the people of the state from the benefits of central schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, "on political consideration".
About the fuel price issue, she said even as the NDA government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has slashed fuel prices by Rs 2.50 per litre, Patnaik was not ready to reduce state tax for giving relief to the people.
Addressing a BJP state executive meeting here, the Union textiles minister said, "Naveen Patnaik has deprived the people of Odisha from the benefits of Ayushman Bharat scheme on political consideration."
Despite of the health scenario in the state, Naveen Patnaik preferred to reject the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Irani said, adding, "The poor people are now raising question why they should not avail the benefits of the central scheme."
Claiming that atrocities against women has been increasing in the state by the day, she said, "The BJD government has failed to maintain law and order in the state and provide protection to women and girls."
On the BJP's agenda of securing more than 120 of the total 147 seats in the Odisha Assembly, Irani said, "The BJP's Mission 120 plus is not just about securing power in the state, it also aims to raise public awareness on issues of women atrocities, unemployment, corruption."
Reacting to Irani's allegation, the spokesman of the ruling BJD, Sasmit Patra, said "The BJP is afraid of Odisha government's Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. The BSKY offers better facilities than the Ayushman Bharat scheme."
About Iran's claim about rise in the atrocities against women in Odisha, the BJD spokesman said, "The Union minister should first say how safe women are in BJP-ruled states."