Bhubaneswar, May 4: Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha candidate from Sambalpur, Dharmendra Pradhan said that Odia people question why the state lags behind in so many aspects.

"Today, every Odia is thinking about why is their state lagging so much. It has been 26 years but villages in Odisha do not have access to drinking water. Fields in Odisha do not have water for irrigation. Schools in Odisha do not have teachers...Government hospitals do not have doctors. Odisha leads when it comes to oppression against women...How long will this go on? Resentment over this can be seen," Pradhan said speaking to ANI on Friday.

Pradhan said that the BJP which is fighting against Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in both the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections held simultaneously in Odisha, has appealed to the people to give the party an opportunity to serve them.

"BJP is going with an appeal to the people...PM has appealed to the people of Odisha to give us an opportunity to serve them...," Pradhan said.

Questioning Naveen Patnaik's development initiatives in Odisha, Pradhan said, "Who was the first individual to make a personal donation to Parikrama project? It was me. So, did I oppose it? If a 13th-century idol is discovered, instead of preserving it you put glossy tile over it and say that it is development. At least I don't accept it. This is not development..."

Pradhan participated in the nomination rally of BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Dhenkanal constituency, Rudra Narayan Pani in Dhenkanal.

Earlier on Thursday, Pradhan filed his nomination from Odisha's Sambalpur constituency.
The Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in the state are to be held simultaneously in four phases, starting May 13. The voting for the remaining seats will be held on May 20, May 25 and June 1.

(ANI)

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