Crores spent on paid news for Pandian propaganda; politics heats up

Politics in Odisha heated up over the then BJD government spending crores of rupees on VK Pandian’s advertisement through paid news. 

According to sources, instead of advertisements, the then BJD government was doing paid news with Naveen Patnaik and VK Pandian’s photos through a particular media house.  

Most importantly, as the government didn’t have any rule for paid news, a committee on the Information and Public Relations department’s director level was formed hastily. The Committee finalized the tariff for paid news in July 2023. 

As per the committee’s decision, if a newspaper published the paid news in the inner pages, it would get the price fixed for the front page advertisement. And, if published on the front page, it would get 25 per cent more than the actual front page price. 

The committee even decided to waive GST. The department even sanctioned money for paid news on April 19, when the Model Code of Conduct was in force. 

For any new rule, approval by the cabinet or the Chief Minister is required. But here, how the committee decided the guidelines for the paid news? On whose behest, it was done? Who is responsible for this advertisement scam? 

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“It will be caught during an audit. Then the new government can serve a notice, asking them to return the money,” said former chief secretary, Sahadev Sahoo. 

Money for paid news was also released during the new government. Approval for Rs 10.70 crore out of Rs 15.26 crore for paid news for the Srimandir Heritage Project and Maa Samalei Project was made after the formation of the new government. 

Now questions are being raised who in the new government approved? How approval was given when the Chief Minister holds the Information and Public Relations department? Is the Chief Minister aware of it or did the secretary of the concerned department take the decision? 

“They were not giving paid news to all newspapers or all TV channels. They were giving to those media houses that were in thrall to them. It should be investigated,” said Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati. 

BJD MLA Sarada Prasad Jena said, “VK Pandian was the chairman of 5T. It was a new concept. There is nothing wrong in doing propaganda about 5T and Chief Minister.”

“The Law Minister has already said that action would be taken. If they spent money from the government treasury, they should be punished,” said Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Krushna Chandra Patra.