Odisha: Naveen Patnaik asks partymen to counter Opposition's 'misinformation campaign'

Addressing the extended executive committee meeting of the party here, Patnaik said the opposition will "speak lies and spread misinformation: as they have no issues.

He asked the party workers to counter the misinformation campaign of the opposition parties against the BJD at the grassroots and also on social media.

Patnaik said, "The (Opposition) is spreading misinformation and lies as the transformation of Odisha has become a shock for them.

"But we have to strongly counter it right from the grassroot level and oppose it in social media," he said and asked BJD workers to take the message of development from door to door.

The BJD supremo said the people of Odisha know that a thousand lies cannot make a false thing right.

The truth will ultimately prevail and development will win and a new and empowered Odisha will be formed.

Senior leaders of the party supported 32 proposals discussed at the Executive Committee meeting which decided to organise meetings at the Panchayat level after the celebration of the party’s foundation day on December 26.

The BJD will launch a campaign from January 23, the birth anniversary of revolutionary leader Netaji Subhas Chandra Boase, to March 5 - the birth anniversary of former state chief minister Biju Patnaik - to apprise people at the grass root level about the success of the BJD government.

The meeting also decided to press ahead with the demand for a special category status for Odisha.

The Executive committee expressed its regret over the silence of the Union government over the Mahanadi water dispute and Polavaram issue and resolved to continue its efforts for the fulfilment of the demands of the state.

It also decided to request the Union government to concede to the state's demand on issues like coal royalty, expediting development in sectors like National Highways and Railways and waiving GST on Kendu leave collection.

The Executive Committee expressed its gratitude to the people of the state for reposing confidence in the party and helping it to win various elections continuously since 2000.

The meeting thanked the Chief Minister for the promotion and propagation of Jagannath culture, the Jagannath temple heritage corridor project, steps taken for rehabilitation and conservation of various places of worship, development of health infrastructures, empowerment of youths and bringing Odisha to the list of top three states of the country in attracting investment.