Seeking removal of the “non-Odia” bureaucrat, members of the outfit submitted a memorandum to Odisha Governor through the Nischintakoili IIC.
The protestors also burnt tyres and shouted slogans against Pandian while alleging that the bureaucrat- also attributed as the ‘third floor’ in the ruling party has been conspiring and trying to defame Kendrapara MP since long.
Not only Panda, the IAS officer is also trying to conspire against other leaders of the ruling party leaders, the protestors rued .
“Pandian has a big role in conspiracy against MP Jay Panda. Besides trying to disrupt the water tank projects in the MP’s constituency, the officer has also shown injustice towards Mahanga Assembly constituency,” Amarendra, a protester said.
However, efforts to contact VK Pandian proved futile.
The senior leader after appearing before the Civil Judge Junior Division court today in connection with sword brandishing case in 2016 said that a conspiracy has been hatched to put him in trouble.
He said Odisha CM and Pandian had asked him to join BJD and he is now being targeted for rejecting their offer.
"I filed the FIR first but no action was taken on that. Later I was arrested on the basis of an FIR which was filed based on the account of a person who was not even present at the spot," said Mishra.
"This is completely Naveen babu and Pandian's conspiracy against me. They had requested me to join BJD, however, after I rejected their offer, they are targeting me," added Mishra.
Responding to the allegations, Labour and Energy minister Sushant Singh said that the senior BJP leader is unnecessarily trying to complicate the situation after getting arrested in the murder case.
"Why didn't he (Jaynarayan Mishra) mention - when he was offered to join BJD? After going to jail in a murder case, he is unnecessarily trying to complicate the situation," said the Labour and Energy Minister.
Mahtab had on Tuesday sought removal of Panda from the standing committee on Home Affairs citing his suspension from the primary membership of BJD. In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, the Cuttack MP also requested that Panda should be allocated a separate seat away from the seats earmarked for the BJD MPs in the Lok Sabha Chamber.
In response to the letter, a twitter user stated Panda was present in the selection committee that gave Mahtab the best parliamentarian award but now the Cuttack MP is bringing allegations against the former.
On the other hand, former Union Cabinet minister of Parliamentary Affairs Srikant Jena said that once somebody is made member of a parliamentary standing committee, only the speaker can withdraw his/her membership. Hence, if a letter has been written to remove MP Baijayant, then it's wrong, he opined.
"Once members of a party inform their choice in writing to Parliamentary Affairs minister or Speaker, ultimately the speaker decides who will stay in which standing committee. After a person becomes a member of a standing committee only the speaker has the right to expel him or her from the committee and the party cannot interfere in it," said Jena.
Dama Rout's op-ed appeared in a local vernacular daily today with the headline 'introspection before protest,' which many felt was a veiled attack on Pandian.
“We also condemned the attack and so did different associations. But the members of those associations who are protesting must also think about their duties while raising their voices,” said Rout.
Rout said protesting the attack is the constitutional right of the bureaucrats but they should first be clear about the concerned official's honesty, discipline and integrity towards service rules and regulations.
The former minister opined that it is the duty of the bureaucrats to give advice and suggestions to the ministers and obey their orders. However, bureaucrats have started ignoring suggestions given by ministers which is regressive for development, he said.
When approached for comments, BJD leaders skilfully dodged questions on Rout’s statement.
Earlier, Rout had said that there is no harm in removing the bureaucrat (Pandian) on moral grounds if there are allegations against him citing that he was also removed from his ministerial post in a similar fashion.
The accused identified as Balia was arrested from Khandagiri area here. With this, the total number of arrested persons in the incident rose to five.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has assured appropriate action in connection with the attack. Patnaik’s response came after a delegation of State government employees, including members of the IAS, IPS and OAS associations met him and demanded stringent action against the culprits.
On February 10, BJP activists holding party flags had barged into Pandian’s residence and ransacked the flower pots. The protesters also damaged vehicles inside the quarters and hurled cow dung on the gate and walls. They also allegedly thrashed the security guard deployed in the quarters.
The arrested workers -Jugal Jyoti Swain, Rasmiranjan Muduli, Bibhuti Bhushan Prusty and Biswabhushan Badjena- were sent to Jharpada special jail after their bail petitions were rejected by SDJM court in Bhubaneswar.
“The other sections include 506,327,149,124,147,294,452,353 of IPC. All these sections slapped against the BJP activists are fabricated as the offence doesn’t attract these sections. As these sections are beyond the power of the SDJM, the bail applications got rejected. We will soon move the higher court seeking bail,” BJP's lawyer Surya Narayan Das said.
This is only a ploy to harass the BJP activists, he added.
Some members of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) ransacked the residence of Pandian today.
Shouting slogans against him, they barged into his residence, damaged flower pots and several bikes. They also threw cow dung on the wall and the main gate of the house.
As speculations continue, BJD’s Kendrapara MP, Baijayant Panda stated in his tweet message that he is happy that Naveen met some leaders who share the same concerns with him and heard them in the interest of the party and Odisha.
While some might feel it is house cleaning others doubt it to be a camouflage strategy to protect V Karthikeyan Pandian, the IAS officer and his private secretary who is considered to be the second power centre within the ruling BJD.
Reports claim that Naveen met Baishnab and Nabin in presence of MLA Pranab Prakash Das and Pandian.
“The meeting was with the CM and Pandian was present. Even Pranab Prakash Das was present and I feel that if such meetings are called to discuss all the issues from time to time it will be helpful for the party,” said Baishnab.
“I want the party not to face any problems in future. Yesterday even I told the CM that he should take the decisions even if people suggest a lot of things,” said Naveen.
It’s difficult to understand how the issues related to Pandian’s interference in politics could have been discussed in presence of the bureaucrat himself. So if it was not about the officer, was it about the party given the fact that 2019 elections are round the corner which leaves Naveen with little leeway for bold castigations.
“When the party chief spoke about the need of introspection, the party’s strategy has been the same. There is nothing new and there are no aberrations,” BJD spokesperson, Pratap Deb said.
Meanwhile, Nabin has praised Baijayant and replying to the latter’s tweet said that all his efforts will bear fruits in the coming days.
After the exits of leaders like Rama Ranjan Baliarsing, Jayram Pangi, former Kendrapara MP and senior leader Jay Panda, ouster of senior leader Damodar Rout and recently resignation of former Mayurbhanj MP Laxman Tudu has now fuelled speculations that the ruling party could face huge setback during the forthcoming elections.
As suggested by national media agencies, the exit of Jay Panda could pose the biggest impediment for the BJD.
Not only Panda, several leaders, those who quit the party before have cited their displeasure over the management of the party and questioned the Chief Minister’s private secretary VK Pandian’s excessive interference in affairs of the party.
Speculations are doing rounds that there are chances that general public could also seriously start to accept the allegations of these former leaders which could further fuel anti-party fire against BJD.
“The senior leaders, who actually played a crucial role in forming the BJD, are being ignored. Foreigners are now ruling the party,” rued former Mayurbhanj MP Laxman Tudu while announcing his resignation from the party yesterday.
Tudu had further said even though he apprised the party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik about it, he didn’t pay any heed to his concern.
However, the BJD has denied any such impact on their party. On Tudu’s resignation, party leader and spokesperson Amar Satpathy said such incidents occur when elections are round the corner, so there is no need to worry. “The leaders who quit the party will generally speak about their displeasures. However, it does not mean that it will have an impact on general public,” said Satpathy.
With just two weeks left for the general elections to kick off, Behera who was an aspiring MLA candidate of the BJD this time, was hacked over suspected political rivalry on Monday night.
Talking to media, Rout charged Odisha Minister Badri Patra and his family's hand in the murder. He also stated that Patra is wreaking terror in Ghasipura after CM Naveen Patnaik's private secretary VK Pandian finalised a deal for his (Badri Patra) candidature from the constituency.
Rout even said that such political murders happen at the behest of Pandian and Jajpur MLA Pranab Prakash Das (Bobby Das) in collusion with police officials.
"Pandian and Bobby Das in connivance with police are behind such political murders. Earlier, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik had also written demanding party leadership not to give ticket to Badri Patra. Three days back, Badri Patra had a deal with Pandian and after his candidature was finalised, Badri's family planned the murder," alleged Rout.
#FormerBlockChairmanMurder: BJP leader Damodar Rout alleges Badri Patra and his family is wreaking terror in Ghasipura after CM Naveen Patnaik's private secretary VK Pandian finalised a deal for candidature of Patra from the constituency pic.twitter.com/FEbVrfSWSY
— OTV (@otvnews) March 27, 2019
Reacting to Dama Rout's allegations, BJP national Vice President and Spokesperson Baijayant Panda also demanded investigation by national agencies stating that the case cannot be left to state agencies to investigate. "Since Odisha CM's own PS is alleged to be involved in this gruesome murder (MLA aspirant chopped to pieces), it cannot be left to state agencies to investigate (they have time & again suppressed rather than exposed such nexus). Needs #NIA or #CBI," tweeted Jay Panda.
Very serious allegations!
Since Odisha CM's own PS is alleged to be involved in this gruesome murder (MLA aspirant chopped to pieces), it cannot be left to state agencies to investigate (they have time & again suppressed rather than exposed such nexus).
Needs #NIA or #CBI https://t.co/S9M3ZhJKMQ
— Chowkidar Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) March 27, 2019
While no comments were available from the BJD on Dama's allegations, Minister Badri Patra had refuted the charges stating, "I was personally connected to Behera. And now they are giving political colour to his murder. I want a thorough investigation by police and all the accused should be arrested soon. Why would my family get involved in this murder when we wanted him (Behera) to join our party."
Earlier on Monday, BJP MLA candidate from Ghasipura Prithviraj Kuanr had also demanded a CBI investigation and verification of call records of Behera alleging involvement of local MLA and Minister’s family in the murder.
It is pertinent to note that four persons have been arrested so far in connection with Behera's murder.
A proposal in this regard was approved by Patnaik, sources said, adding that apart from functioning as the private secretary to the chief minister, Pandian will now hold the additional charge of secretary of the Chief Minister's 5Ts- Transparency, Teamwork, Technology, Time and Transformation.
The action plan under 5Ts includes a number of new initiatives including creation of a 'Mo College' platform in line with state government's 'Mo School' campaign to allow alumni and other interested individuals to contribute to the development of the colleges.
After assuming office as the chief minister of Odisha for fifth consecutive term, Patnaik has been giving emphasis on 5Ts. He has advised his Council of Ministers, newly-elected MLAs and bureaucrats to focus on this 5T "Mantras" to build a 'New Odisha'.
A 2000 Batch IAS officer, Pandian has been serving as the private secretary to chief minister since May 2011
They visited several key wards at the hospitals, free medicine centres and sought feedback from patients and their relatives. During the visit, authorities of Malkangiri & Nabarangpur hospitals demanded several key facilities and patient amenities which are absent in the hospitals.
The government team assured to set up a 500-bed ward and provide five ambulances to Koraput hospital. “The team members interacted with the patients and asked them whether they had to pay bribe for treatment. Soon, an internal committee will be set up which will give report on whether patients are getting proper services or not,” Koraput collector, Madhusudan Mishra said.
On the other hand, after the implementation of Mo Sarkar, Director General of Police, BK Sharma today visited Bargarh and urged police officials to ensure that citizens visiting police stations are not heckled.
“Many police officials misbehave with complainants and such behaviour projects a wrong image of police. It is now time to change that and begin a new chapter,” urged Sharma.
Meanwhile, the opposition parties have criticised such efforts of the government and called it a farce.
“There are so many vacant doctor posts in hospitals. Such visits are useless. It is just a farce,” said Congress MLA Suresh Routray.
Slamming the State government, Odisha BJP State vice-president Samir Mohanty said, “Earlier, different secretaries of different departments had spent time in government hospitals. Where are those reports and what actions have been taken?”
Responding to the allegations, government’s chief whip, Pramilla Mallick said “The government’s team is visiting different hospitals to ensure that Mo Sarkar initiative reaches the needy. They are also looking at how infrastructure can be developed.”
All government and private offices including shops and business establishments have remained shut in view of the protest. However, vehicular movement has not been disrupted much. These apart, educational institutions, banks and hospitals have also been exempted from the strike.
As per reports, Pankaj Patel, the CDMO In-charge, was suspended yesterday over charges of dereliction in duties after the State government's 5T Secretary V.K Pandian reportedly found some lapses in the hospital during his visit to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) to take stock of ‘Mo Sarkar’ programme’s implementation.
Pandian reportedly found that patients were forced to go for laboratory tests from private patho labs situated outside the hospital due to absence of the facility inside the hospital and also noticed that sub-standard diet was provided to the admitted patients.
Taking cognizance of the lapses, the District Collector was also served a show cause notice by the state government
.
However, the suspension of Patel has not gone down well with several outfits and political organisations with the district unit of BJP staging a protest against the move.
Bata Kishore Mishra, BJP’s Sundergarh district President said, “There is a severe shortage of doctors, anaesthesia specialists and technicians in the hospital but Pandian couldn’t see all these shortages. He didn’t even bother to enquire the patients about any allegations before suspending the doctor on healthcare negligence. This move is a vendetta politics played by BJD because Sundergarh is a BJP bastion.”
Sarangi was overtly critical of state government's 'Mo Sarkar' programme, which is based on the 5T model of governance, by terming it as a 'sham'. Sarangi said, "I went to Basta hospital and couldn't find a single doctor on duty. No free medicines were being provided in that hospital either."
"The economy of the state is in a shambles. All these state government programmes and schemes are eyewash, just to buy votes. The government here is primarily run by bureaucrats. There are absolutely no 'T's in the governance," added Sarangi.
Meanwhile, reacting to the allegations of Pratap Sarangi, BJD's Binjharpur MLA and state government's chief whip, Pramila Mallick said, "Whatever welfare work the government does, it is implemented through the concerned department secretaries. They are being sent to different districts to get the job done in a more efficient manner."
Questioning Sarangi's comments on 5T, Mallick added, "Honorable Minister is an Odia. If he is so concerned about Odisha's issues, why doesn't he put these before the centre and gets some assistance to Odisha?"
He ridiculed Patnaik for his party BJDs support the BJP government at the Centre and alleged that there is an understanding between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Odisha chief minister.
Ever since Modi came to power, Patnaik has been supporting all his policies and bills...In Delhi, the BJD has been supporting the BJP on all issues and changes its voice when it comes to politics in Odisha, Singh told reporters here.
On the BJD governments governance, Singh said I understand that Naveenji is totally dependent on an IAS officer and is not accessible to his own party MLAs and MPs also.
He alleged that the IAS officer alone gives feedback to Patnaik "in the morning as well as in the evening" and no one is accessible to the chief minister.
I was also the chief minister of a major state (Madhya Pradesh). Chief ministers get feedback from the MLAs and MPs.
But that is not happening in Odisha. An IAS officer is the lone person who gives feedback to the chief minister, Singh said.
The Congress leader said that peoples representatives should be given importance in a democratic setup but BJD MPs too are helpless and have no access to Patnaik, who is also the BJD president.
AICC general secretary in-charge of Odisha, Jitendra Singh said The BJD and the BJP are two sides of a coin. They work in a manner that they suit each other. Therefore, there is no opposition in the Assembly to raise peoples issue.
He sought a clarification from the chief minister on the relationship between the BJD and the BJP.
https://youtu.be/JxxGTkYNLkg
BJD reacted immediately over Digvijay Singh's remark and said the regional party does not take his statement seriously.
In the past, he (Digvijay) is known to have been making loose remarks which have embarrassed his own party. We do not take his statements very seriously, said BJD spokesman and MP Sasmit Patra.
(PTI)