The Vikas Utsav, organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party to highlight the achievements in the first two years of the Narendra Modi government at Rourkela, proved to be a damp squib as neither Union Minister of Steel and Mines Narendra Singh Tomar nor local MLA Dillip Ray attended the event.

Mr. Ray had earlier announced to boycott the Utsav saying despite assurances by the Prime Minister to convert Ispat General Hospital into a multi-specialty hospital and medical college during his visit last year, nothing has been done.

Mr. Tomar cancelled his visit to Rourkela on account of bad weather. Finally, it was left to Union Tribal Affairs Minister and local MP Jual Oram to carry on with the celebrations as planned.

Although he was not personally available for the meeting, Rourkela MLA Dillip Ray had helped organise the event.

The boycott by Mr. Ray assumed political significance as he was stated to be ignored at the public meeting addressed by Mr. Modi at Balasore on June 2.

Addressing the meet, Mr. Oram said the Modi government had performed spectacularly across all sectors.