Shri Narendra Modi’s address at the Vijay Sankalp Samabesh in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on the afternoon of 11th February, encapsulated issues of local prominence and national importance.
Shri Modi spoke of the presence of the Third Front, and the accompanying bad governance that had ruined the State. He mentioned the huge gap in the development of the western and eastern states of India, while highlighting the progress witnessed in the BJP-ruled western states of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Goa. Speaking about the remarkable improvement in the economies of BJP-ruled states of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, Shri Modi said that inspite of the presence of Maoists in Chattisgarh, the state has grown tremendously under Dr Raman Singh, so much so that while earlier it was dependent on rice imports, today its produce is sufficient even for the neighbouring states. In Madhya Pradesh, which was earlier considered ‘bimaru’, the agricultural sector has shown remarkable improvement under Shivraj Singh.
Citing the pro-people governance of the BJP in Gujarat, which has been serving the state for nearly 14 years, Shri Modi said that while Gujarat has reached a stage where it attracts people from other states, in Odisha the youth still have to venture to other states for work opportunities. “Even people from the Chief Minister's district are having to leave homes,” said Shri Modi.
Speaking about how Odisha has been lacking the vision for development, he urged the audience to show their support for BJP in the 2014 elections and affirmed that the BJP would transform Odisha in such a manner that those who have left the state would also want to come back.
Highlighting the pitiable condition of the karigars of silk saris in Odisha, who have to leave Odisha and get settled in Surat for better work prospects, Shri Modi said that this apathy of the State and its people would certainly cause pain to Biju Babu - referring to the former MC of Odisha and the stalwart of Odisha and National politics Shri Biju Patnaik. “Should we not create an Odisha that makes Biju Babu happy? Yes we have to make such an Odisha. Uttam Odisha is the best tribute to him,” said Shri Modi. Shri Modi also highlighted the bad governance in Odisha by stressing on the fact that the State was yet to take concrete steps to solve water crisis, even while Gujarat had taken revolutionary initiatives for the same.
He urged the people to realize that the Third Front was a group of 11 parties, out of which 9 supported the Congress, only to wear the mask of the Third Front during elections. “The Third Front has one thing to do- save the Congress when they are in trouble,” said Shri Modi.
Putting forth the lousy attitude of the Central government, Shri Modi spoke of how the Congress leaders were never keen on the aspect of development, and how they have never bothered to address the national concerns of inflation, corruption and bad governance. “What has the Congress given to the nation? It has been 60 years and one family ruled. These big canons come from Delhi but why are their lips sealed when there is talk of corruption,” asked Shri Modi.
Calling for the need to ensure that the 2014 elections were not just about who will form the government, but about purifying the political system, Shri Modi said, “The Nation and Odisha need the right leadership. If I want to do good for the state I need MPs of BJP from here. We need a direct line from Odisha to Delhi. I want to serve you, so send us 21 Lotuses from here,” said Shri Modi.
Addressing the massive crowd, which reverberated to his prayers of Jai Jagannath, Shri Modi began his speech in Odiya and said that this move of his should not be taken as his rebuke for Odisha’s CM Naveen Patnaik (who is not known to be well versed in the local language), but rather as his love and respect for all languages.
Shri Modi also offered his condolences to families of those who had lost their lives in the Sambalpur boat tragedy.
