Mineral-rich Odisha still a poor state: Soumya Ranjan

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Khandapada/Bhapur (Nayagarh), Mar 15:

“Though Odisha is replete with mineral resources, it still has the dubious distinction of being one of the poorest states in the country”, said Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, president of Ama Odisha Party (AOP) today.

AOP's Mathia Rally
AOP’s Mathia Rally

Addressing the party’s zone-5 meeting at Khandapada, Patnaik said the time has come for the people of Odisha to realize this harsh reality.

Stating that Khandapada is one of the backward blocks in the state, the AOP president came down heavily on the ruling party leaders who, he said, are only concerned about their own interest.

“While the present government has been ruling the state by offering rice to the poor people at Rs 1 a kg and luring them with false promises, it has been looting the state’s mineral resources in the name of development. Now there is a need for a revolutionary change in our state”, he said while calling on the people to fight unitedly for a new Odisha and to change the fate of Khandapada.

More than 3000 AOP workers including women from seven panchayats participated in the meeting which was presided over by former sarpanch of Koska Akhila Mohan Patnaik.

Earlier, Soumya Ranjan was welcomed by the women workers in a ‘Mathia’ (earthen pot) rally.

Later, addressing the party meeting at zone no-20 of Bhapur block of the district, Patnaik said a person having love for the mother, motherland and mother tongue would achieve success in his life.

“The Ama Odisha Party that possess all the qualities, has been awarded the Mathia (pot) symbol”, he added.

Stating that the Khandapada Assembly constituency is one of the most neglected constituencies in the state, Patnaik said there have been no efforts by the present and the previous MLAs for the development of this constituency.SRP AOP

“Though the river Mahanadi flows through this constituency, the farmers here are dying for water”, he said, adding that the sitting MLA here has no interest to improve the standard of education.

He said unlike other parties where the workers act on the diktat of their leaders, the system is just the opposite in Ama Odisha Party where the decision is taken by the grass roots workers.

“That explains why I have come today to seek the approval of my party workers to contest the Assembly elections from Khandapada constituency on behalf of the party”, Patnaik added.

More than 1500 party workers including women of Baigunia, Baghuapalli, Nimani, Badasahara and Bhabaganpur panchayats were present at the meeting that was presided over by the president of the AOP Bhapur block Jitendra Kumar Ransingh.

On this occasion, former sarpanch of Baguapalli panchayat Rajkishore Dalei and hundreds of his supporters joined AOP in the presence of the party president.

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