Loot by the Congress and then Biju Janata Dal for over seven decades after Independence kept resources-rich Odisha poor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a rally in Behrampur today. The Prime Minister was campaigning for the BJP ahead of the state polls in Odisha that are being held alongside the general election.

"Odisha has water, fertile land, minerals, a long coastline, history, culture, God has given so much. But why are the people of Odisha poor? The answer to this is loot, first by Congress leaders and then by BJD leaders. Even small leaders of BJD have big bungalows," he said.