Bhubaneswar: Moments after the managing editor of NDTV Sreenivasan Jain took to Twitter and quoted CM Naveen Patnaik blaming BJP national vice president Baijayant Panda for rumours about his ill health, Panda responded strongly and prayed to Lord Jagannath to give him (Naveen) good sense to reject "such nonsensical conspiracy theories".
The response came after Naveen Patnaik, in an interview with Jain, named Jay Panda behind 'spreading ill health rumours' about him to 'further his political gains'.
Jain mentioned in tweet about NDTV getting a rare access to Naveen's workout routine two days after the CM's fitness video went viral on social media. Though the interveiw is yet to be telecast, the news website has already posted a small part of it.
In the interview, the CM is heard saying "one of our ex-MPs spread the rumour for political gains."
When asked whether he is referring to Jay Panda, Naveen said "I am."
Why do you believe that he would spread such rumours?, asked Jain. "I think for his own personal political ambitions," the BJD president said.
However, Jay Panda immediately responded to Sreenivasan's tweet stating in another tweet, "That's just a ridiculous thing to say. Also, it's false. It's very sad to see him descend into this paranoia about me. I pray to Lord Jagannath to give him good sense to reject such nonsensical conspiracy theories, & also bless him with continued good health."
On the other hand, senior BJP leader Biswabhusan Harichandan said that Naveen should stop such 'showcase of fitness certificate' as the 4.5 crore people of Odisha are not fool.