BJD ignoring national interest to oppose BJP, says Baijayant Panda; claims Naveen Patnaik govt supporting goons

New Delhi: Former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Baijayant Jay Panda who joined BJP on Monday, said that BJD has stopped supporting Bharatiya Janata Party on policies which are in the national interest. Panda was suspended from the BJD for his “anti-party activities” in January last year. Later on 28 May, 2018, Panda ended his over 18 years of association with BJD by quitting the party. “Earlier I used to be a member of BJD, it was an ally of the BJP from the day it was founded. In recent years the party has gone in a different direction and has stopped supporting policies which are in the nation’s interest,” said Baijayant Jay Panda while speaking exclusively to ANI. [caption id=“attachment_887981” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Baijayant Panda. Image courtesy: Twitter @PandaJay[/caption] Panda said under the BJD government the law and order have completely collapsed in the state. “Odisha has seen a dramatic drop in governance standards in the recent years. There is a very high rise in crime against women and children, high rise in corruption, under construction bridges keep on collapsing taking the toll on human lives,” said Panda. “Industries in Odisha are being harassed, goons supported by the government are rampaging. Odisha is not able to attract investment or create jobs, law and order have broken down. Only BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah are capable of turning it around,” said Panda. On the speculations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi might contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Odisha Panda said, if that were to be the party decision, people in Odisha would be over the top of their joy and enthusiasm. “Any Odia and particularly the members of BJP would be very proud if Prime Minister were to contest from Odisha, but in the democratic party like BJP there is a process to everything and being a new member I don’t want to get into speculations,” said Panda. “I am just saying that if that were to be the party decision people in Odisha would be over the top with joy and enthusiasm, but this is the decision Prime Minister, party president and the party with all democratic processes have to take,” said Panda. He said that India has taken a firm stand against the cross-border terrorism under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “After 30 years of essentially wringing our hands against cross border terrorism, India has finally redefined the red lines and put clear dictum that we will not accept to bleed like this inflicted with thousand wounds,” said Panda. He said that people of Odisha are angry with the BJD government and there is anti-incumbency against it. “There is 19 years of anti-incumbency and people are seething with anger against the government,” he said. Panda said that there is a direct fight between BJP and BJD while Congress is at number three. “In last Panchayat elections, BJP had grown 10 times in Odisha. Congress is now left far behind at number three and there is a direct fight between BJD and BJP,” said Panda. In his strong-worded resignation letter addressed to BJD chief and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Panda had stated that he was disappointed with the kind of politics being practised by the party.