Both the senior leaders buried the hatchet after a meeting with party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here today.
Rajya Sabha MP Pratap Deb and Pranab Prakash Das, former energy minister also accompanied them at Naveen Nivas.
Also Read: Tathagat Apologetic For ‘Thief Remark’
“It was a slip of tongue; we (Debi Mishra) are friends and there are no differences between us,” said Tathagata after meeting with the Chief Minister.
In a tweet message, the office of Tathagata posted a picture with Tathagata, Debi Mishra, Pranab Prakash Das and Pratap Deb at Naveen Nivas after the meeting.
Debi Mishra on the other hand also echoed similar tones. “We (Tathagata Satpathy) are close friends. He has already clarified in public domain,” said Mishra.
Earlier, the MP while addressing a public meeting at Hindol in Dhenkanal district on June 7 hit out at Congress, BJP and some leaders of his own party.
Besides, calling members of the two national parties as ‘thieves’, Tathagata had used the same remark for his BJD colleagues including former minister Debi Mishra.
After the steel major pulled out, speculation started doing rounds on the fate of these lands whether government would take measures to invite new industries to utilise these lands or the same would remain in store. It is also said that ESSAR and JSW are keen on setting up steel plant in the concerned area. JSW chairman Sajjan Jindal had also shown interest in establishing steel unit while discussing with Odisha with CM Naveen Patnaik earlier in last year.
The government has decided to keep the acquired lands in its own custody. "No private lands would be kept. The government lands and the lands which were acquired by the government with due payment would be kept for further industrialisation", Industries minister Debi Mishra said.
On the other hand, Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), the outfit which has been spearheading movement against industries in Jagatsinghpur, suggested the government to return the lands to farmers.
"The government should refrain from committing another mistake by storing the lands in IDCO land bank. The lands should be returned to the farmers", PPSS chief Abhaya Sahoo said.
Experts felt that government can not materialise its dream to set up any industries there without the consent of locals. "The issues of both supporters and anti-industry group should be sorted out first. Otherwise, it would not be easy for any company to set up a unit there", veteran scribe Dillip Satpathy said.
Briefing media persons here, the minister said the state government has formulated guidelines for OSSTET which would be conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE).
Also read: OTET pattern test for secondary school teachers soon: Minister
The Board will prepare procedure by November this year to conduct the test, he added.
After CM’s intervention, the regional party today clarified in a press meet that BJD is united and there is no infighting in Vyasanagar.
Party's district observer Debi Prasad Mishra convened the media conference in presence of Korei MLA Akash Das Nayak, Vyasanagar Municipality chairperson and party Sukinda MLA Priti Ranjan Ghadai to inform that all councillors are united and will not take part in confidence vote to be held tomorrow against the chairperson Sabita Rout.
The problem in the party has been sorted out after CM's intervention. "There is no intra party fighting in Vyasanagar BJD. Those, who were opposing the current chairperson, have agreed to follow party president's order", Akash Das Nayak said.
The Vyasanagar municipality chairperson said the small conflict among us has been cleared. "We have agreed to our party president Naveen Patnaik's order. We vowed to work together for the development of Vyasanagar", she added.
Some of the BJD disgruntled councillors in league with a few Congress members had urged the Jajpur Collector for holding a confidence vote against chairperson last month.
Before Vyasanagar, feud in BJD had also come to fore in Dhenkanal, Anandpur and Keonjhar municipality. The intra party squabble in Gunupur NAC of Rayagada district is also said to be continued. However, Mishra said these issues in the party are being sorted out.
"Differences of opinion are quite obvious in a big party like BJD, which has captured many civic bodies. If there is any small quarrel among the party councillors/members, it is always being addressed", Mishra said.
This was informed by Industries minister Debi Prasad Mishra while replying the debate on the expenditure relating to his department in the assembly.
"The state will have two new policies during 2017-18 fiscal to attract investors in these sectors," Mishra said.
Stating that the state government has received investment intent of Rs 2.03 lakh crore during the Make In Odisha Conclave in December 2016, Mishra said the state's new sectoral policies have been highly appreciated by the investors from across the globe.
He said Pharmaceutical Policy, Health care Investment Promotion Policy, Apparel Policy, Biotechnology Policy, Renewable Energy Policy and Startup Policy were formulated before the Make In Odisha Conclave here. These policy could catch attention of the investors. Therefore, two new policies to be announced during this fiscal was also expected to bring good investment for the state.
The minister said as many as 126 investors have envinced their interest to set up industries during three mega industrial meet organised by the state government in different places. While 14 investors have proposed to invest Rs 70,959 crore at the Make-In-India Week in Mumbai, 29 investors also came out to set up their units at an investment of Rs 90,670 crore during the Odisha Investors Meet at Bengaluru.
The Industries minister said the state owned IDCOL (Infrastructure Development Company Limited) and IREL (indian rare earth limited) would sign an MoU in 2017 for setting up Beach Sand Project in a joint venture. This apart some industrial parks would be established during this fiscal, he said.
Mishra said the state government has been making all out effort to include Odisha's industrial clusters in the East Coast Economic Corridor.
"There are more and more opportunities in India and if one company chooses to pull out, others will come in," Goyal said on the sidelines of International Diamond Conference 'Mines to Market'.
Commenting on the delay in land acquisition and other policy issues as regards the Korean company, the Coal and Power Minister said, "It had happened during the earlier regime and now things are becoming more transparent."
Odisha's Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra had said that Posco-India in a letter requested the state government to take back its 2,700 acres of land provided to it near Paradip for setting up a 12 mtpa steel plant at an investment of Rs 52,000 crore.
As the steel major had not made any formal communication with the Odisha government about its plan, the present letter is considered as the first move for scrapping of the project.
Posco-India had signed an agreement with the state government in June 21, 2005 for setting up its mega steel facility near Paradip.
Meanwhile, Goyal said the Centre is working with state governments and trying to make things more simpler for new companies to come in.
"For the mining sector, to bring in transparency, we have separated exploration and exploitation of the mines by amending the Mining Act. Now things will become much easier," he said.
Addressing the diamond exporters, he said the Centre is also taking steps to issue separate exploration contracts, which will be separate from exploiting of the mines.
"India plans to change rules of exploration of mines. We plan to have separate contracts to explore the mines. We will pay the companies to explore and we will take the risk. We will also incentivise them if the exploration turns valuable," Goyal said.
As for the exploitation of the reserves found, it will be done through the auction, the minister said.
He also urged Indian companies to participate in the exploration as well as the exploitation process.
"One should not only depend only on large international companies in the mining sector. The time has come to take a leap and not follow the world," Goyal said.
"We are going to explore the minerals and invite bids for the process of exploiting the resources found," he said.
"The people of the state capital have proved that they have absolute faith and trust in Patnaik. They have generously voted for the ruling party despite Congress holding a 12-hour hartal a day before polling," Urban Development minister Debi Prasad Mishra, told reporters here.
"The people have given a befitting reply," Mishra, the BJD General Secretary said.
Mishra claimed that the government had taken steps against illegal mining much before Shah panel's report came to the fore.
"While the Shah panel has recommended recovery of Rs 60,000 crore fine from mines owners, the state government had already imposed penalty of Rs 67,000 crore on them," Mishra said.
"Patnaik should not be blamed for the the loot of minerals," he said.
Stating that the Congress should know the minds of voters, he said that 49 BJD candidates were elected, while the Congress won in two which was less than the five it received in 2008.
BJD president Naveen Patnaik, on his part said, "I would like to thank the people of Bhubaneswar for having voted so generously for the Biju Janata Dal and to the party workers for having worked so hard. And, we will continue the good work for Bhubaneswar."
Countering him, OPCC president Jaydev Jena alleged "I do not accept the poll outcome because of the flow of money and liquor in the elections."
Meanwhile, state BJP president K V Singhdeo said that the BMC poll outcome would not impact the Lok Sabha elections next year.
"We will certainly perform well in the polls," he added.
As the house assembled, during the question hour, senior Congress leader Tara Bahinipati asked the first question seeking details about the number of farmer households in the State in 2010, and wanted to know from the Agriculture Minister Arun Sahoo whether the number has declined in 2019.
In reply to the member's query, Agriculture Minister Arun Sahoo has given a written statement detailing the 2011 census data on farmer households in the State. "As per the 2011 census data, there were 32.8lakh cultivators in the State. In addition, there were over 24 lakh farm labourers," the minister replied.
Taking strong reservations over Minister's reply, senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra sought to know from the Government that how without having any 2019 data on number of cultivators, sharecroppers, small and marginal farmers in the State, the Government has implemented its flagship programme Kalia Yojana.
Responding to the senior member's reservation, Agriculture Minister Arun Sahoo said under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), nearly 22 lakh farmers had availed the scheme. Later, scores of farmers have applied for the Yojana via the Green Form. The agriculture department is analysing the details. But till date, nearly 50 lakh farmers have seen transfer of KALIA money into their accounts.
The Minister has a harrying time on Wednesday, when senior ruling party members like Prafulla Samal and Devi Mishra joined the opposition ranks and sought clarifications from the Minister on KALIA Yojana.
"How the Agriculture Department has identified the sharecroppers, and whether the reports that speak of many sharecroppers failed to avail the Yojana are true," asked Samal.
"The government and CM are claiming that around 50 lakh farmers were provide assistance under Kalia Scheme, but to whom the Kalia money is being distributed if no farmer census or farmer identification is done? " questioned Congress MLA Tara Bahinipati. He further said the Kalia money was distributed to only BJD workers.
As per reports, simultaneous raids were conducted at his official residence in Unit-1 area of Bhubaneswar and 7 other places in connection with the scam. The sleuths left his residence following a 3-hour raid, said sources.
Seashore chit fund scam: CBI completes searches at BJD MLA Debi Mishra's house, recovers important documents during the search that lasted for around three hours #Odisha
— OTV (@otvnews) September 18, 2020
CBI had earlier served notices to two bureaucrats - Parag Gupta posted as secretary of Tourism department and Sangram Keshari Ray the then General Manager of Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) when Odisha government had signed MoU with Seashore. It is being alleged that Debi Mishra during his tenure as Odisha Culture & Tourism Minister signed agreements with Seashore for a water sports complex with a restaurant in Cuttack apart from giving permission to the company to manage government-run guest house in Khordha.
In response to the raid, Mishra said, "The CBI officials inquired about Seashore Mahanadi tourism project. Probe is underway since 2013 and I've been questioned in this connection earlier too because I was tourism minister. Whatever decision was taken was not based on personal whims and my individual capacity, it was decision of government. We have always cooperated with the CBI and will continue to do so. My house wasn't raided, they had just come to seek information regarding documents. I've told them that the documents are with the tourism department."
Notably, the CBI had re-opened the probe in June earlier this year by interrogating one of the main accused, Subhankar Nayak to ascertain the role of two IAS officers and one IPS officer in the scam.
Nayak was earlier arrested and sent to jail in November 2014 in connection with the Rs 500-crore Seashore chit fund scam. Later, he was out on bail in August 2017 following HC order.
It is pertinent to mention that former BJD MLA Prabhat Biswal was arrested in September 2017 in connection with a fraudulent land deal with the Seashore Group.
Seashore Chit Fund Scam In Odisha: CBI Re-opens Probe, IAS & IPS Officers Under Scanner
A group of senior leaders from the ruling party had visited Prativa and met her at Saheed Nagar in the city yesterday to pacify her.
Even as the party leaders indicated Prativa's displeasure indirectly, she is yet to clear the air on the speculations.
"Everyone has the aspiration to get ticket so also the mother and her son. But, there is no rift or displeasure between them," BJD vice president Debi Prasad Mishra said.
Her daughter Pallavi and son-in-law Ardhendu have, however, denied such speculations.
"Son is the biggest strength and a backbone for a mother during time of trouble. Speculation of a rift between mother-son is not acceptable," Pallavi said.
Similarly, Ardhendu said "We wanted somebody from our family to contest the bypoll. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has decided Rudra to fight the battle. So, we all are happy and united in the family."
Party insiders said that delay in the announcement of the candidature was only due to the growing aspiration between mother and son to fight the bypoll.
On the other hand, BJP candidate Ashrit Pattanayak, who has already filed his nomination papers, already commenced ground works for the by-election with meeting with party leaders and chalking out strategies to occupy the seat.
"We will reach people with the Centre's welfare activities and irregularities by the BJD leaders in various central programmes in the State," Ashrit said.
Similarly, Rudra Pratap is scheduled to file his papers on March 30. Prior to the nomination, BJD poll observer Pratap Deb and other leaders have chalked out action plan at the residence of Labour Minister Sushant Singh.
"Naveen Patnaik is reigning in the hearts of the people which is our biggest strength. Strategies are being planned to retain the Pipili seat," Deb said.
On the other hand, Odisha Congress which had recommended three names for the bypoll is waiting for the AICC's approval.
Senior Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said that finalisation of candidate will be completed by tomorrow (Sunday). Our contest will be a fight against corruption in Pipili."
"I am indebted to the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for giving priority to our family by nominating my son as the party candidate for Pipili bypoll. It is very good news for our family. Being a mother, I am probably the happiest one as my son is going to contest the bypoll on behalf of BJD," Prativa said through a video.
"My blessings are always with him. With the blessings of CM Naveen Patnaik, our family members and people of Pipili, he would emerge victorious," she added.
It was widely speculated that Prativa, who was also in the race of party ticket, was unhappy after her son was declared party nominee. A number of BJD leaders including party vice-president Debi Mishra, Pramilla Mallick and others had visited her two days ago to pacify her.
Maharathy's family had denied such speculations while some BJD leaders had indirectly indicated regarding her displeasure.
Prativa's daughter Pallavi and son-in-law Ardhendu had also rubbished such speculation.
"Son is the biggest strength and a backbone for a mother during time of trouble. Speculation of a rift between mother-son is not acceptable," Pallavi said.
Similarly, Ardhendu said "We wanted somebody from our family to contest the bypoll. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has decided Rudra to fight the battle. So, we all are happy and united in the family."
Coming down heavily on Odisha Government, BJP State general secretary Lekhashree Samantsinghar said the construction of medical colleges in State has got delayed only because the State government failed to provide its share.
Citing the example of proposed medical college in Puri, she said that the State government is yet to provide its share of 40% cost of expenditure resulting in delay of the construction of the healthcare institute.
"The Centre has already given its share to the State for all such projects which are taken up on 60:40 ratio. The projects are getting delayed only because the State government has utterly failed to provide its 40 % share. The burning example of State's failure in giving its share is the proposed medical college in Puri,” she added.
The Central government has already dispatched Rs 576 crore in first phase for the construction of five medical colleges in Odisha. It is shocking to see how the State government is laying false claims of taking up of the projects alone? she asked.
BJD, on the other hand, countered the saffron party, saying that welfare projects are taken up on Centre- State partnership.
BJD vice president and MLA Debi Mishra said "The Centre not only allocates funds for State projects, but also it received revenue from State. The welfare projects are taken up in Centre-State partnership which is envisaged in the federal structure of the constitution. If Centre really focuses on Odisha, it should allocate more funds to the State by according special category State status.”