Senior BJD leader Soumya Ranjan Patnaik on Sunday took an indirect dig at Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi’s question about giving so much power to the Secretaries in the governance in Odisha.
Recently, Aparajita slammed the State government over the public meetings and official visits conducted by a Secretary-rank officer instead of the ministers. Recently, the BJP leader also sought clarification from the Chief Minister on the matter.
Responding to Aparajita’s question, BJD leader Soumya Ranjan Patnaik launched an indirect attack on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s government in the editorial column of his daily newspaper.
“If the Chief Minister gives a Secretary certain responsibilities to carry out, the concerned Secretary has no fault. Is Aparajita, who has left her administrative job to be a political leader, jealous of another secretary who has been given such a huge responsibility?” asked Patnaik.
Moreover, Patnaik also said that the highest control of All India Administrative service is in the Prime Minister’s hand and hence Aparajita should raise her voice against the development there.
Taking an indirect dig at the Chief Minister, Patnaik wrote, “BJD has been ruling Odisha for the last 25 years. The Chief Minister should reciprocate the love showered by the people of Odisha on him. The Chief Minister should clarify on the allegations against the administration.”
As per senior journalist Rabi Das, Aparajita’s question is pertinent and though Patnaik is a BJD leader, he has asked the Chief Minister to answer the uncomfortable question as the editor of a newspaper to clarify on the matter.
“Patnaik has answered three questions in his own way. But he wants the Chief Minister to answer one question. An MP has the democratic right to ask questions to the administration. The common people also want to know about it and hence the Chief Minister should answer,” said Das.
“Patnaik has asked many uncomfortable questions to the ruling party in the past as well. As a BJD MLA, he may be criticised for raising another question this time. However, he has raised the question on behalf of the people of the State as the responsible editor of a newspaper,” Das added.
Responding to Soumya Ranjan’s editorial column, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi tweeted, “Admire him for his COURAGE and sense of SELF- RESPECT. I wish everyone, without fear, could display the same sense of DIGNITY and the ability to say ‘no’ to what is WRONG/ UNETHICAL.”
Commenting on the issue, BJD said that Soumya Ranjan Patnaik is giving such kind of opinion, as he wants to join BJP.
“Whenever there is any impediment to his own interest and aspirations, he (Soumya Ranjan Patnaik) gives this kind of opinion by using his newspaper and other medias. It is not the first time that he has given this kind of opinion,” said BJD spokesperson Anubhav Patnaik.
“He is completely a selfish man. For his selfish motive, he has changed several parties. He may be intending to return to BJP again and that is why he has given this kind of opinion,” said Anubhav.