BJP shedding crocodile tears for the poor : Naveen Patnaik

The BJP is shedding “crocodile tears” for the poor by telling lies, alleged Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday.

Patnaik who was addressing two election campaign meetings at Jharbandh and Paikmal blocks of Padampur assembly seat, where by-poll is slated to be held on December 5, asked the saffron party to stop misleading the people.

The chief of the ruling BJD also accused BJP leaders of indulging in politics over issues of the poor like the PMAY.

“Though the state government secured a prize from the central government for completing five lakh houses under Prime Minister Awas Yojana (Gramin) per year, the BJP MPs with political motives exerted pressure and stopped the scheme. This deprived ten lakh people of houses,” PTI quotes Patnaik as saying.

Accusing the Union government for imposing high rate of GST on trade in kendu leaf, CM said, “Do you know the GST on gold? It is only three per cent, while the Centre unfortunately charges 18 per cent GST on kendu leaf trade. The BJP has been shedding crocodile tears for the poor, the kendu leaf pluckers, farmers and others.”

He also the saffron brigade for delay in payment of crop insurance under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and said many farmers have not received their insurance claims so far, PTI reported.

“When the aggrieved farmers stopped the BJP candidate Pradip Purohit from filing the nomination paper for the by-poll, the NDA government released the funds within 48 hours,” he said.