Odisha minister answering for private secretary is unfortunate: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday targeted the Biju Janata Dal (BJD)-led Odisha government alleging that a minister is coming to the defense of CM's Private Secretary VK Pandian, who is being questioned for his chopper rides.

The BJP alleged that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is not taking any decision on his own. The voters are watching this and will reply in a befitting manner in the next election, BJP said.

Speaking to reporters, BJP MLA, Nauri Nayak said, “When the Opposition asks about undemocratic chopper rides of CM's private secretary, VK Pandian, and its associated costs, Ministers of the Odisha government jump to the front to defend the bureaucrat.”

“It is unfortunate that a Minister has to come forward to answer for a Private Secretary. When the department is asked about the cost of Pandian’s chopper rides, they feign ignorance. But the minister is giving us a figure of Rs 50 crore, which is incorrect too,” he said.

Earlier, a social media war broke out between Odisha Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu and BJP MLA Kusum Tete on Sunday over 5T secretary’s chopper rides to districts.

Taking to her X handle, Minister Sahu said the minds of conspirators have gone mad which is why they have been giving such statements.

“Some are saying Rs 300 crore has been spent on the helicopter rides and some others are saying Rs 500 crore. There is no coherence in their statements. The fact is that about Rs 50 crore has been spent in the last five years which means, on average, Rs 10 to 12 crore has been spent per year,” read her post in Odia.