Bhubaneswar, June 12: Union urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu today engaged in a "3D battle" of wits with the rival Congress here even as the BJD took potshots at the Centre for not displaying sincere concern for Odisha's poor.
Known for his typical word play, Naidu, who was here to take part in Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas programme at the Salia Sahi slum to mark completion of the Modi government's three years in office, said while the Congress believed in 3Ds - defame, disturb and disrupt, the BJP's 3D agenda was development, decisiveness and dynamism.
While describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the messiah of the poor, he launched a scathing attack on the Congress.
"They believe in disrupting Parliament and defaming the Prime Minister," said Naidu, who was accompanied to Salia Sahi by Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan and other senior state leaders of the BJP.
However, Naidu's 3D barb drew an immediate retort from state Congress with its president Prasad Harichandan describing the BJP-led NDA government as deaf, dumb and deceiver (3Ds). "The three years of Modi government is a saga of destruction ( teen saal, vinash kaal)," said Harichandan.
The BJD also questioned him about the utility of frequent visits of central BJP leaders to the state. The party also described the Modi Fest as nothing more than an illusion.
BJD spokesperson Prashant Nanda said the Modi-led BJP government should offer an explanation to the people on its so-called achievements in the past three years. "The Centre should give a detailed account of what it has done in the past three years. They have made a mockery of the poor by de-linking eight schemes in Odisha from central support and slashing down the budget for another 33," he said.
The BJD's Redhakhol MLA Rohit Pujari alleged that public money was being spent for BJP's party programmes.
Naidu also made a reference to the NDA's efforts to evolve a consensus on the successor of incumbent President Pranab Mukherjee. "Our effort is to ensure that the best possible person is chosen with the consent of all. We will talk to everybody," he said.
