Lok Sabha elections 2024: PM Modi says 'pride of Odisha under threat'

Narendra Modi. Pic/AFP

Amid ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should get an opportunity to serve Odisha, reported news agency PTI.

The Prime Minister said the pride and dignity of Odisha is being destroyed, and the BJP should be given a chance to serve the state.

PM Modi said this during an interview with a news channel, while responding to a question related to Odisha, reported PTI.

Speaking on the BJP's relationship with BJD in Odisha, PM Modi said: "The BJD has given support to us at the Centre on the basis of issues. There are many other parties who have provided us issue-based support too."

PM Modi also said that the BJP has no truck with the BJD in Odisha.

"The pride of Odisha and Odia language is at stake. I don't think Odia people will tolerate this for a long time. Odisha has so many resources that it could have become the richest state in the country today," PM Modi added, reported PTI.

He said every Odia has the aspiration regarding Odisha to become the richest state.

Notably, Assembly and Lok Sabha elections 2024 will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases from May 13 to June 1. The results will be out on June 4.

Meanwhile, attacking the Modi government over key issues in Karnataka, the Congress on Monday questioned the "delay" in the vital Bagalkote-Kudachi Railway line project and also asked when it is going to pay the state's MGNREGS workers their wages.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his rally in Bagalkote in Karnataka.

"Why has the Modi Government failed to deliver the Bagalkote-Kudachi Railway line? Why is the Modi Government holding up the Upper Bhadra and Mahadayi projects? When will the PM pay Karnataka's MGNREGA workers?" Ramesh said in a post on X.

Elaborating on what he said were "jumla details", Ramesh said the Bagalkote-Kudachi line of the South-Western Railway has now been delayed by more than eight years.

As of today, only 33 per cent, or 46 km of the 142 km line has been completed, he said.

(With inputs from PTI)