Bhubaneswar: A day ahead of the Ravan Podi Utsav, Senior Congress MLA Sura Routray today came up with the star cast of his version of Ramayana and said that every political party is Odisha has Ravans, the 'demon' king of Lanka. While Congress Chief Niranjan Patnaik happens to be the Lord Ram in Routray's Ramayana, CM Naveen Patnaik and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were attributed as Ravans by the Congress leader. Amid such a caricature, former BJD MP Prasanna Patasani jumped into the bandwagon claiming himself to be Hanuman, and termed CM Naveen as Lord Ram.
Narrating about the Ram-Ravan anecdote, Routray said that each of the major parties including the Congress has leaders portraying the characteristics of Ravan in real life, citing the number of houses and property they have established during their reigns.
The Congress leader pointed, “CM Naveen is the ultimate Ravan with no political right-hands. Dharmendra Pradhan was Ram at the beginning but he has become half-Ravan now.”
“On the other hand, Niranjan Patnaik, as far as I am concerned, doesn't consume liquor, neither does he looks at women with a wrong mindset. He is a knowledgeable man with huge assets,” said Routray.
Responding to Suresh Routray's jibe, former BJD MP Prasanna Patasani said he considers himself Hanuman under the reign of CM Naveen- his Lord Ram. "Naveen Patnaik, Dharmendra Pradhan and Niranjan Patnaik are all like Ram but I am discharging my duties under Naveen Babu like Hanuman as I used to do under the leadership of Janaki Ballav Patnaik and Biju Babu.”
When senior BJP leader Damodar Rout was asked about his response, he said, “The Ravan concept is based on the inherent qualities of a person. For me, those who choose politics to gain money are the Ravans. But don't drag me into controversies. I am tired now.”
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Response of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan could not be obtained.