Odisha Govt. is under hostage, says PM Modi

New Delhi: A toli (group) seems to have captured the entire system in Odisha and holding it hostage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told ANI on Tuesday. “Odisha will flourish once it comes out of this bondage. It is sad that people here continue to remain poor despite the state being rich in natural resources,” he said.

“Odisha is among the prosperous states of India, it has so much natural wealth, and also among the states with poor people of India. The incumbent government is responsible for this. Therefore, people of Odisha should get their rights…It is a question of Odisha’s asmita (pride),” he said and added that fate of Odisha is about to change. “The expiry date of the current Odisha government is June 4 and on June 10, a BJP CM will take oath,” he said.

Responding to the changed equation with Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and the BJD, which had supported the BJP over different issues in Parliament in the past, Modi said he shares good relations with the leaders of all political parties and there is no room for enmity in a democracy. “Here, the question was whether I should maintain my relations or worry about the fate of Odisha. I chose to devote myself to a brighter future of Odisha… if I have to sacrifice my relations for that, I will sacrifice them… after the elections, I will convince everyone that I have no enmity with anyone…”

ED, CBI and IT being used to suppress Opposition

“Ask the person who is throwing this garbage, what is the proof of what you are saying?…I will convert this garbage into manure and will produce some good things for the country from it…When Manmohan Singh was in power for 10 years, Rs 34 lakh were seized and currently in the last 10 years ED has seized Rs 2,200 crore. The one who has brought back Rs 2,200 crore to the country should be respected and not abused. The one whose money has gone is abusing…It means that whoever has a part in stealing money will shout a little after being caught…Today, a Sarpanch has the right to sign on a chequebook but the Prime Minister of the country does not have it…officers have been that my government has zero tolerance towards corruption.”

Personal attacks during campaigns

“As far as Modi is concerned, after being continuously abused for last 24 years, I have become ‘gaali proof’. Who called me ‘maut ka saudaagar’ & ‘gandi naali ka keeda’? Our party member in Parliament did the calculation and counted 101 abuses, so whether there is election or no election, these people (Opposition) believe that only they have the right to abuse and they have become so frustrated that now abusing has become their nature…”

On reservation issue

“…I want to alert the SC, ST, OBC & other backward-class people because by keeping them in darkness they (opposition) are looting them. Election is such a time, that I should make the countrymen aware of the biggest crisis that is coming. Therefore, I have been explaining this to the people. The basic spirit of the Constitution of India is being violated and that too for the sake of vote bank politics… Those who call themselves well-wishers of the Dalits, Tribals, are in reality their staunch enemies…There is an imprint of the Muslim League in their manifesto…Do you want to destroy the coming generations also for the sake of vote bank?… I will fight for the rights of my Dalit, Tribal, OBC brothers and sisters. And that’s why I’m fighting the battle.”

“Congress swiftly changed laws overnight and declared thousands of educational institutions as minority institutions and did away with reservations previously provided to SCs, STs, OBCs…”

On removing Article 370

“Article 370 was the agenda of only 4-5 families, it was neither the agenda of the people of Kashmir nor the agenda of the people of the country. For their benefit, they had built such a wall of 370 and used to say that if 370 is removed, there will be a fire…Today it has become true that after the removal of 370, there is a feeling of more unity. The feeling of belongingness is increasing among the people of Kashmir and hence its direct result is also visible in elections, tourism …”

On BJP’s 400-paar slogan

“You used the word ‘aakhri daur’, I can see a lot of things in it- one that it indicates our new era will start. Second, those who were dreaming and making tall promises, it will be their ‘aakhri daur’ as well. ‘Chunav ka aakhri daur nahi hain, unki sthitiyo ka bhi aakhri daur hain’…”