Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik under house arrest: BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Bhubaneswar, Aparajita Sarangi on Saturday hit out at the BJD-led government over the visits being undertaken by the 5T Secretary and said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is under house arrest. 

She launched a verbal attack at the BJD while addressing a gathering at the party’s zone-level meeting held at Malipada in Khordha. 

"Reposing faith in him, 4.5 crore people of Odisha have made him the Chief Minister. On his behalf, we want to see a minister, an MP or an MLA on the dais. We never want to see a secretary," Aparajita said. 

“The Chief Minister is ill. And he has been under house arrest. This was not the case for 25 years, but this pattern is being observed over the past four years now,” she asserted. 

“We want to see the Chief Minister announcing programmes, sharing dais with his ministers, MPs, MLAs, Sarpanches, and ward members. If a government employee comes forward by bypassing all, I think all of us should come forward to condemn such practice,” she added. 

Taking a jibe at the Chief Minister, Aparajita further said, “If I can’t discharge my duties as an MP, I should resign. We don’t want proxy rule. We don’t want a remote-controlled government.”

On the other hand, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) lost no time to hit back at the BJP. 

BJD leader Bibhuti Balabantaray said, “The Chief Minister took part in a government programme today. Then, how can he be termed as under house arrest? Despite knowing everything, Aparajita madam is doing politics.”