Odisha: Naveen Patnaik dubs Congress, BJP leaders as migratory birds

Aska: Dubbing Congress and BJPas 'migratory birds' who visit Odisha only during elections, BJD chief Naveen Patnaik on Thursday said the two parties had all along ignored the interests of the state.

"Leaders of both Congress and BJP visit Odisha seeking votes during elections. But, where were they when the cyclone Phailin hit the state?" Patnaik asked while addressing a public meeting here during his two-day whirlwind tour of Aska and Berhampur parliamentary constituencies.

"BJD is committed to the development of Odisha. We have no other agenda than development of the state," Patnaik said.

Referring to BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's statements that Odisha remained backward despite its rich mineral resources, Patnaik said "They (Modi and Rahul) are simply shedding crocodile tears. Do not believe them."

Trying to set an emotional chord with the people of Ganjam district, Patnaik said he was here and started his political career from Aska in 1997 and thanked the people of Ganjam for facing Cyclone Pahilin bravely.

Patnaik during his two-day visit to Ganjam district, which started on Wednesday, participated in several road shows and a number of public meetings.