The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Saturday sharply criticised the Odisha BJP government, labelling the claims of securing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 65,000 crore during Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s recent visit to Hyderabad as “completely misleading” and nothing more than propaganda.
In a strongly worded press statement, BJD spokesperson and media coordinator Dr Lenin Mohanty accused the ruling party of indulging in exaggerated announcements for publicity, while ground realities paint a starkly different picture.
“The Chief Minister, during his address at Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, boasted about transforming Odisha into India’s leading FDI hub. But central government data tells a different story,” Mohanty said.
According to official DPIIT figures for FY 2024-25, India attracted total FDI equity inflows worth Rs 4,21,929 crore, of which Odisha received a paltry Rs 39.02 crore — accounting for just 0.009% of the national total. The state does not feature in the top 20 recipients.
Maharashtra topped the list with Rs 1,64,875 crore (nearly 40% share), followed by states like Karnataka, Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Telangana, which together cornered the bulk of foreign investments.
Mohanty pointed out that this is not the first instance of such “tall claims” by the BJP government, comparing it to previous unfulfilled promises like the “17 lakh lakhpati didi” scheme.
He alleged that several major projects, including JSW EV, ArcelorMittal Steel, S Ram N Ram Semiconductor, and Wari Solar Project, have exited Odisha under the current administration, citing a lack of effort, planning, and coordination to retain or attract investors.
In contrast, Mohanty highlighted that under the previous BJD government led by Naveen Patnaik, Odisha recorded its highest-ever investment inflows in 2023-24, earning recognition and an award from the central government for Industries Minister Sampad Swain.
“The Naveen Patnaik regime proactively targeted specific sectors and independently wooed foreign investors. The current government has badly lagged in attracting FDI,” he added.
Urging the BJP dispensation to shun “hollow propaganda, publicity stunts, theatrical announcements, and promotional advertisements,” Mohanty called for genuine focus on bringing actual investments and development to Odisha.
The controversy comes days after the Odisha Investors’ Meet in Hyderabad, where the state government announced investment intentions totalling around Rs 67,000 crore, including signed MoUs worth over Rs 27,000 crore with potential for thousands of jobs.
While the ruling BJP has hailed the event as a success reflecting growing investor confidence in Odisha’s policies and infrastructure, the opposition’s rebuttal underscores the ongoing political tussle over economic performance in the state.
