Naveen Patnaik ridiculed PM Narendra Modi frequent visit to Odisha as “election tourism”, not once visited during natural calamities

Kendrapara: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for visiting the state “10 times” for campaigning in the past one month, but not finding time even once during last five years when people were hit by natural calamities.

Patnaik had earlier ridiculed the BJP leaders frequent visit to Odisha as “election tourism”.

CM’s allegation that Central BJP leaders visit the State only during elections and disappear when the people are in distress. “Where were these leaders (of BJP) when natural calamities like cyclone, flood and drought hit Odisha? These leaders just shed crocodile tear for the people of the State,” questioned Naveen during many of his election rallies.

Patnaik said the Prime Minister had visited Andhra Pradesh on October 14, 2014 after cyclone Hudhud. He visited Bihar on August 26, 2017, Gujarat on July 25, Assam on August 1, 2017 and Kerala on August 18, 2018 to witness floods.

But, he did not visit Odisha even once while the state battled natural calamities.

“Odisha faced cyclone Hudhud in 2014, acute drought in 2015, devastating floods in 2017 and cyclone Titli and subsequent floods in 2018. Had the Prime Minister visited Odisha?” Patnaik asked.

“I have been all along with the people of Odisha. I will remain with them,” Patnaik, who is serving as CM continuously for the past 19 years, said.

BJD suremp Naveen Patnaik addressing a massive crowd during his roadshow in Kendrapara today, on the final day of campaigning for 4th Phase polling in the State.

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