Good people are welcome to party: Dharmendra Pradhan

Bhubaneswar: A day after an English TV channel aired a speculative report on Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda joining BJP, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today said the party welcomes people into its fold who repose faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah.

Replying to a media query on chances of the Kendrapara MP’s joining the saffron party, Pradhan said, “Good people are always welcome to the party with open arms. If they believe in the Prime Minister and the party national president’s leadership and support party ideologies, they are welcome.”

Republic TV channel, on Friday, had telecast a report titled ‘Jay Panda joining Team Shah’ speculating the BJD MP is joining the saffron party.

On Mahanadi water issue, Pradhan further stated, “The Mahanadi water and Kalma barrage issues raised by the Odisha government have already been presented before the Union Water Resource Minister with a request to direct the Central Water Commission (CWC) to take steps to resolve it. In no way the State’s interests will be compromised.”