Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who has managed to win four successive elections by largely replicating schemes launched by the Centre and other States, has attracted sharp criticism from the Opposition for borrowing his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee’s popular political slogan ma, mati, manush(mother, motherland and people).

A day after Mr. Patnaik incorporated his newly-borrowed slogan in a statement he made before the media at the State Assembly, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra on Tuesday slammed the former, saying the Chief Minister was applying “double standards.”

Mr. Patnaik told the media on Monday evening that his government and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had been working and would continue to work for ‘ma, mati, manush’.

“How can the Chief Minister claim that his government and party are working for the welfare of women when cases of rape are on the rise in the State?” asked Mr. Mishra at a press conference here, pointing out that Odisha had become the number one in terms of rape cases registered.

“While seven women are raped in Odisha daily, only six men are punished for rape in a year,” the Congress said.

Rise in rape cases

Against 2,011 cases of rape reported in the State in 2014, 2,286 such cases were reported last year, registering a 14 per cent rise.

Mr. Mishra also said the State government did not admit that even a single farmer had committed suicide in Odisha due to crop loss and loan burden despite the BJD itself taking to the streets, demanding Central assistance to tackle drought.

“Which people is Mr. Patnaik talking about when the State government has failed to pay input subsidy to farmers, provide drinking water to the people, and have teachers in schools and doctors in hospitals?” the Congress leader asked.

He also blamed the Chief Minister for making Odisha emerge as “the poorest State” in the country while talking about motherland at the same time.

Mr. Mishra also questioned Mr. Patnaik on his apparent inability to read and write the Odia language despite being in power for over 16 years, saying “he (Mr. Patnaik) would get the answer from the people in 2019 [ Assembly elections].”

Mr. Patnaik had announced a 12-point programme on completion of 100 days of his government in June 2000, saying his government accorded priority to proper management of jami, jala and jungle (land, water and jungle).

Govt, BJD had been working and would continue to work for ‘ma, mati, manush’: CM