Free pilgrimage to Ayodhya's Ram temple for 5 lakh people of Odisha if BJP voted to power: Himanta

Addressing an election rally at Kalimela here, the senior BJP leader also took a swipe at the ruling BJD for naming villages with numbers in Malkangiri district.

"In Assam, I have decided to take one lakh people to Ayodhya, and the state government will bear the cost. As Odisha is bigger than Assam, 5 lakh people should get this facility. A new BJP chief minister will facilitate this pilgrimage if the party is voted to power in Odisha," Sarma said.

Sarma also sought to connect with the large number of Bengali-speaking population in Malkangiri district, assuring the people that Bengali teachers will be appointed, among other promises.

About one lakh Bengali-speaking people were rehabilitated in Malkangiri district after the 1971 Bangladesh war. On names of villages in the district bearing numbers such as 'MV-82, MV-83', the Assam CM said: "Only inmates in jails are assigned numbers, but here, villages are named with numbers. This is a dishonor to people."

"Appointing Bengali teachers and changing the names of these villages are two guarantees of the BJP," Sarma said.

He also criticised the BJD government for 'failing' to provide employment to the youth of Odisha. "They are not getting jobs, question papers are being leaked, if the BJP government is formed, we will provide jobs to 3 lakh youths on the basis of merit," Sarma asserted.