Taking a jibe at AICC president Rahul Gandhi, Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani said he had no moral right to speak of development as he never even cared for health services in his own constituency of Amethi. Irani said she, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath and BJP national president Amit Shah inaugurated first office of the chief district medical officer at Amethi only recently.

“The Congress president has not even cared for health services in his own constituency,” Irani said while responding to a question regarding a youth from Rourkela who undertook a walk to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his promises. The youth, Mukti Biswal, who wanted to meet the PM to remind him of his four-year-old promise of a building a super-specialty hospital at Rourkela and a second bridge over Brahmani river, landed in a UP hospital after falling sick on the way. AICC president Rahul Gandhi had tweeted on Biswal’s effort.

“The lust of power of one family had resulted in imposition of Emergency and sufferings to millions of people in this country,” said Irani, adding “Fundamental Rights, the Constitution, freedom of the media were all crushed.” She was addressing the media as part of the BJP’s campaign to observe 26 June as ‘Black Day’.

In Odisha, 900 Satyagrahis were up in arms against Emergency and 300 were detained under MISA, “just for the one power hungry family”, she alleged. “BJP is observing the day as Black Day to remind people of this country of the dark day and how democracy was murdered. We also salute all those who fought against the Emergency,” said Irani.

Responding to questions, she claimed that the promised “acche din” had come by way of innumerable schemes for the poor. Irani listed out Mudra, Jan Dhan, Universal Health Scheme etc to justify her claim.

She also harped on cooperative federalism.

Irani criticised the Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha saying it failed to deliver in sectors like education, health and law and order.

She, however, said she was hopeful the CM would reflect on his rejection of the Ayushman Bharat health scheme of the Centre.

The Odisha government rejected the Ayushman Bharat scheme and announced its own Biju Swasthya Yojana. On Monday, the ruing BJD claimed that its stand against the Ayushman Bharat scheme had been vindicated by the Indian Medical Association, adding that BJP should apologise to the people of Odisha.