"They (Modi and Naveen Patnaik) are simply trying to fool the people of Odisha... Both PM and CM have betrayed the people," he added. The OPCC chief said, "Naveen Babu had promised that all blocks will get at least 35 per cent of irrigation. Has it been done even in a single block out of the 314 in the state? He thinks people of Odisha are fools." Refuting the charges, Deb said both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress make similar allegations against the BJD. "While Congress says that we are with BJP, the saffron party leaders also make similar charges. In fact, BJD maintains equal distance from both the national parties," Deb said. The BJP too rejected the allegations made by the Congress with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stressing that Modi was "polite, but critical". "The prime minister's words were polite, but critical.

The PM raised chit fund, PC (percentage commission), inefficiencies, poor nutrition and sanitation issues," the minister said. The BJP, he said, will launch a campaign from Wednesday across the state questioning the state government on different issues. Meanwhile, OPCC has announced that it would observe December 26 as a 'Black Day' to protest against the alleged violation of constitutional rights of the panchayati raj bodies. "The state government has snatched away the rights of panchayats and panchayat samities," said Niranjan Patnaik. December 26 is the 21st foundation day of BJD and the Congress programme will coincide with it.

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