Bhubaneswar, March 5: The BJD leaders today defended the government in the wake of the dal and mining scam.

Highlighting the achievements of his government, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said: “We will continue to work hard for the state’s rapid economic development. Otherwise, future generations will not forgive us.”

He was addressing the party workers at the function to mark the birth anniversary of former chief minister Biju Patnaik.

Senior party leaders, Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, Damodar Rout and Prasanna Acharya, rubbished allegations about the dal and mining scams asserting that these would not affect the chief minister’s popularity. The alleged dal scam was likely to affect the government’s popularity.

Referring to the alleged scams, Mohapatra said: “Some vested interests, including the Opposition parties and media, are trying to tarnish the image of Naveen Patnaik. However, these will not affect his popularity.”

The BJD strategist said the people of Orissa had rejected these parties in the previous elections. While the Congress’ strength in the Assembly came down from 46 to 27, the BJP’s tally slid sharply from 38 to six.

Criticising the media for highlighting government’s failures and alleged scams, Mohapatra said that they had been deliberately overlooking a host of achievements of the BJD during the past 11 years. “But they will finally be disappointed as the popularity of the government will remain intact,” he said. Describing Naveen as a great warrior, Mohapatra said lakhs of BJD workers and crores of people had formed a formidable defensive wall around him, which his opponents would find impossible to penetrate.

Agriculture minister Damodar Rout said: “They (Opposition parties) cannot succeed, if we all stand solidly behind our leader and government.”

Rout said that a few frustrated and mischievous elements had hatched a conspiracy to hinder the state’s progress under the able leadership of Naveen by levelling baseless allegations. “However, the people will not be influenced by such false propaganda,” he said. Health minister Prasanna Acharya recalled that Naveen’s illustrious father Biju Patnaik had to face a similar situation when he had launched several developmental projects during his chief ministership in the early 60’s.

He called upon the party workers to come together and effectively counter the misinformation campaign unleashed by the Opposition parties.

Revenue minister Surya Narayan Patro said the Opposition parties were frustrated and envious as Naveen had set a record to lead a regional outfit which had been at the helm of the state for the three consecutive terms.