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Call to realise Biju's dream

Special Correspondent

BJD will continue to fight for people's cause, says Naveen

CELEBRATION TIME: Naveen Patnaik talking to senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra at Biju Janata Dal foundation day meeting in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.

BHUBANESWAR: As the ruling Biju Janata Dal entered into its 10th year on Tuesday, top leaders of the party, including party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, urged the party workers to strive hard to realise the dream of the late Janata Dal stalwart Biju Patnaik to build a prosperous Orissa.

At an impressive meeting held at the party headquarters here, the leaders applauded Mr. Patnaik for successfully leading the party and performing well as the Chief Minister for the second term.The infighting within the party, however, cast its shadow over the foundation day celebrations. Those questioning the decision of the party were opposing for the sake of opposition and were playing into the hands of the Opposition, several leaders observed.

In his address, the Chief Minister spoke in detail about the welfare programmes being implemented by his government for the benefit of different sections of the society. ``BJD has always remained with the people and will continue to fight for their cause,'' he said.

Mr. Patnaik, who presided over the meeting, said that while focusing on development of the rural areas and the backward regions with vast tribal population, his Government was also facilitating growth of mineral-based industries, information technology and tourism in the State.

Stating that the party had 10 lakh members at present senior leader and Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra called upon the party workers to add more and more members to strengthen the party's in every nook and corner of the State.

Panchayat polls

``If we are able to increase the number of our party members to 50 lakhs no party would be able to defeat us in the years to come.'' About the forthcoming panchayat polls, Mr. Mohapatra asked the party workers to ensure election of more number of party men to the various posts in the three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions. ``We have to get absolute majority in the coming polls.''Taking a dig at Opposition Congress, Mr. Mohapatra criticised the Congress leaders for claiming that it was the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre which was giving huge funds to the State. ``The Centre was not giving any extra funds to the State,'' he observed. Among others who addressed the gathering include party secretary general Damodar Rout, Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai, Agriculture Minister Surendra Nath Nayak, and Tathagat Satapathy and Bhartruhari Mahatab, both MPs.

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