Bhubaneswar: A week after he was heckled by some leaders of the Odisha Pradesh Youth Congress (OPYC) for showing disrespect to their Late leader Lalatendu (Lulu) Bidyadhar Mohapatra and not attending his funeral rites, AICC leader and Odisha in-charge BK Hariprasad on Tuesday said the former leader was offered the post of PCC president to which he had turned down citing health grounds.
“As there was a proposal to replace PCC president Jayadev Jena we had prepared a list of 4-5 probable candidates among whom Lulu’s name was there. As Lulu was offered the post, he said he is not prepared to take charge of the new assignment citing health grounds. He also said he would discuss about the proposal with me after he is completely cured. On the other hand, he had proposed the name of Prasad Harichandan for the post,” Hariprasad told media persons at Congress Bhawan here.
When asked why had he not disclosed this earlier when Lulu was alive, the AICC leader said there was no situation to tell this. “Now that the issue has cropped up, I am disclosing it before you. There is no politics in this matter. I am talking you about the magnanimity of Lulu,” he added.
To a question on growing dissension in the Odisha Congress with some leaders coming out in open against each other and him, Hariprasad said issues in the party are its internal matters. Some leaders have voiced their resentment to the media. “My job is to ensure coordination between the PCC and the Congress Legislature Party (CLP). Have I come here to create rift between them?” he asked.
On suspension of OPYC secretary, Hariprasad said he has not taken against action against him. You can get the details by asking the National Students Union of India (NSUI) about the matter.
Also Read: Cong leaders unhappy with AICC members over Lulu’s funeral
Asked whether he had security problems when he was heckled by some OPYC activists in a hotel a week ago, he said “As I am transparent person I don’t need any security. I have worked in Punjab in those days when the terrorists had unleashed a reign of terror. I have also worked in the trouble-torn northeastern states,” he pointed out.
In his reaction, opposition chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati said the statement he had given to the media was related to Lulu Mohapatra. “If he (Hariprasad) says he does not know then I have nothing to say. I had told about the manner in which Congress had ignored Lulu who had proposed to organised Yuva Garjan Samavesh in Odisha,” he said.
Replying to the offer of PCC president’s post to Lulu Mohapatra as stated by Hariprasad, Bahinipati said if he has told this, it might be true.