By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, October 2, 2017: Odisha chief minister and the ruling BJD chief Naveen Patnaik on Monday kicked off its Jan Sampark Padayatra from Mahisakhala slum here apparently ‘to take the message to people of our development”.

“Every year from Gandhi’s anniversary to Jayprakash Narayan’s birth anniversary we launch padayatra to take the message to people of our development,” Patnaik said after flagging of the foot march campaign here.

The objective of the Padayatra is to create awareness among the people and inform them about the injustice being meted out to Odisha by the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, the CM said adding that it would strengthen the party at the grass root level by connecting people through the welfare schemes and programmes implemented by the State government.

“Our aim is to make Odisha No 1 State. We are working for the Maa, Mati, Manisha (Mother, soil and people) and will continue to do that. We will go to the people to aware them about our various developmental activities and central apathy,” Patnaik remarked.

The BJP, however, launched a scathing attack on the ruling party, dubbing the the 10-day long event as an attempt to hide the ruling BJD’s inefficiency and failure in its 17 years of regime.

“It’s not a journey of achievements, but a ‘Ghanta Ghoda’ yatra (a move to suppress inefficiency). Every year they do such padayatra with a particular agenda. The foot march is undertaken with a handful of party leaders whereas citizens are absent. They propagate two things; some baseless allegations against Centre and beat their own drum,” BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said at a press meet.

BJP leaders blamed the State government for poor health services, vacant teacher posts and frequent collapse of bridges alleging that BJD ministers have nexus with contractors.

Coming down heavily on the government, the state BJP said that the party will ask 10 questions on various issues daily during the padayatra.

Targeting the Works department held by Patnaik, the party will raise the issues like series of bridge collapse in Odisha, BJD leaders alleged link with Panda Infra owner against whom lookout notice has been issued in connection with Bomikhal under construction flyover collapse, delay in completion of Gurupriya Bridge and low quality of bridge construction, the party’s press release said.