PM Modi addresses rally in Odisha, says govt is dedicated to the poor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed a public rally in Balasore, Odisha. This is his third visit to the state in this year and the fourth one since he came to power in 2014. The Prime Minister will address a series of rallies as part of the NDA government's completion of two years in office.In his rally, Modi said that the previous UPA government failed to deliver on their promises. "We don't want any state or any region in the country to be devoid of development and change. In the western part of India, there is economic development, why is there no development in states like Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha," he said.He said that Odisha is a resource rich state despite that poverty has not been uprooted. Citing the example of BJP-led states such as Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat— which he said were better developed— Modi promised that his government will adopt policies that will focus on the development of eastern India.Taking a jibe at the UPA government, he said, "Earlier governments thought they ran the nation. And we saw the results of such thoughts."He said that the policies of his government are "related to everyday problems of the poor in India".Talking about the contribution of Balasore — the missile city — in the development of the defence sector in the country, Modi highlighted how India's former President APJ Abdul Kalam had done some of his best work in the city. "Ye Dr Abdul Kalam ji ki karmabhoomi hai (This city has been Dr Kalam's greatest working ground)," he said.PM Modi had earlier addressed a farmers' rally at Bargarh on 21 February and inaugurated the oil refinery project of Indian Oil Corporation Limited on 7 February.Earlier, the Prime Minister dedicated the modernised and expanded units of Rourkela Steel Plant to the nation on 1 April, 2015.In 2014 Odisha Assembly Elections, BJP won only 10 of the 147 seats. Modi's visits to the eastern state are viewed as his attempt to make BJP's visibility and strength greater in the state. The BJP is hoping for a revival in the state.With inputs from IANS