BJD Slams BJP’s ‘Double-Engine’ Governance in Odisha as ‘Double Deception’

Bhubaneswar, June 21: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP, branding its “double-engine government” in Odisha as a “double deception” that has failed to deliver on its election promises and misled the people of the state.

At a press conference held in Bhubaneswar, senior BJD leaders criticized the Centre’s reduced financial support to Odisha and questioned the BJP’s development claims, especially in light of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech and the unveiling of the Odisha Vision Document during his recent visit.

Sanjay Kumar Das Burma, senior BJD leader and member of the party’s political affairs committee, pointed out that the central grant to Odisha for FY 2024–25 was slashed by 18.19% compared to the previous year. “This budget cut exposes the BJP’s slogan of ‘double-engine, double-development’ as a blatant lie,” he stated.

Das Burma also alleged that several key development projects initiated under the previous BJD-led government, especially in Puri’s temple town, have been stalled by the BJP. He further criticized the Union government for excluding Odisha from the list of 12 cities selected to be developed as industrial hubs, despite the state being rich in mineral resources.

Former Minister Snehangini Chhuria and BJD General Secretary Bhrugu Baxipatra expressed concern over the worsening law and order situation in the state. They claimed there has been a significant surge in crimes against women, citing official data indicating an average of 15 rapes per day and an 8% rise in rape cases over the past year. “Odisha now ranks eighth among the most crime-prone states in the country, with eight out of the top ten such states ruled by the BJP,” they added.

The leaders also accused the BJP-led state government of neglecting the tribal population by halting various tribal welfare initiatives, including dismantling the Special Development Council (SDC) that had been established by the previous administration to protect tribal culture and promote inclusive growth.

Baxipatra criticized the current government’s handling of public health issues, stating, “Odisha, once seen as a beacon of progress, is now battling cholera and diarrhea outbreaks—diseases that had not resurfaced for decades.”

He also dismissed the Odisha Vision Document 2047, which projects a 9% growth target for the state, as unrealistic when compared to the 15% growth targets set for other states. “This document fails to reflect the real ground situation in Odisha and misleads both the people and the Prime Minister,” he said.

The BJD concluded by urging the BJP to fulfill its promises to the people instead of relying on rhetoric and symbolic gestures, stating that the people of Odisha deserve real development, not political propaganda.