Protesting Pratihari’s corrupt practices, the Kanas Nagarik Manch today staged a demonstration and took out a signature campaign demanding action. BJP leader Rama Ranjan Baliarsingh had yesterday brought similar allegations against Pratihari.
According to sources, a lot of allegations of irregularities surfaced against Pratihari when he was the additional settlement officer at the Janla settlement camp. These allegations included transfer of government land to private parties, malafide alteration of land records and manipulation of government records among others.
After such irregularities were proved, the then Revenue department secretary, Mona Sharma had issued suspension order against him. Moreover, the CM had also approved crime branch probe against the revenue official.
What has come as a surprise to many is the fact that no action has been taken against him.
“He was neither suspended nor was any case registered. He escaped action as he enjoys protection from a bureaucrat from the 3rd floor of the Secretariat,” said Rama Ranjan Baliarsingh.
“The tehsildar is ignoring those who are coming with their grievances to the tehsil office and misbehaving with them. He is being protected by the local legislator and collector. His connections are spread till the 3rd floor of the Secretariat,” said advisor of Kanas Nagarik Manch, Krushna Jagdev.
Many believe that he escaped crime branch probe despite CM’s orders because he enjoys the patronage of a bureaucrat.
When approached for comments, the tehsildar evaded saying he was in a meeting in Puri.
“I am out for a meeting in Puri. You can speak to the local MLA and the Collector in this regard,” the tehsildar replied over phone.
Even the Revenue minister spoke in support of the Tehsildar.
“We have received no complaints against him. What information we have got is that some people are trying to give it a political colour,” said Revenue Minister, Maheswar Mohanty.
The trio joined the saffron party in presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP legislature party leader KV Singh Deo and other senior leaders.
“Simmering displeasure in BJD will be exposed in coming days with many leaders including ex-MLAs and senior leaders already showing their dissatisfaction,” said Baliarsingh.
Former legislator Baliarsingh had resigned from primary membership of the BJD alleging interference of bureaucrats in party affairs.
“Now people of the State will be rest assured that there is a leadership which thinks about Odia culture and Odia film industry,” veteran actor Mihir told mediapersons.
More than 35 eminent personalities, including several actors and actresses, have joined the BJP so far since the Panchayat elections last year.
The Mishran Parva will continue till 2019 elections, said party sources.
On January 11, Baliarsingh quit the ruling party alleging mismanagement of party affairs.
Speaking to OTV, Baliarsingh alleged that Satyabadi constituency has been neglected by the ruling-party as no developmental works have been undertaken in the region in the last four years.
"I will join the BJP on January 20 in the very interest of the people of Satyabadi," the former legislator said.
It is worth mentioning that besides Baliarsingh, senior BJD leaders Baishnab Charan Parida and Nabin Nanda among others have also expressed displeasure over the interference of bureaucrats in party affairs.
"He lost in 2014 assembly elections and in three panchayat bypolls consecutively. The party has not expelled him but he left the party," said Samantaray adding, the party knows to gamble on a winning horse, it will not gamble on a dead horse.
The sitting MLA further said, "Naveen Patnaik is our leader and his decision is final. Party members should think about the positions they have been provided by the party in the past. But now when their self-interest is hurt they don’t think twice before criticising the party."
Samantaray's statement came four days after Baliarsingh resigned from primary membership of BJD alleging that party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has become a puppet in the hands of a Tamil IAS officer.
While resigning from BJD on January 11, Baliarsingh had said, “Earlier the CM was working as per the directive of late Pyari Mohan Mohapatra and now he is being guided by a Tamil IAS officer sitting on the third floor of the secretariat.”
He alleged Patnaik is not looking into party affairs for which many leaders have left BJD.
He had also expressed displeasure over inclusion of MLA Samantray in BJD.
Baliarsingh as a BJD candidate had lost to Samantray, who was contesting as an independent candidate from Satyabadi constituency, in the 2014 Assembly polls.
In the FB post, he stated,"Should CM be puppet on a chain to his PS? Will the fate of political leaders be decided by Odias or Tamilian officer?"
Baliarsingh further said that the BJD is being run by bureaucrats who have established themselves as the epicentre of power and decide the fate of political leaders in the party.
Meanwhile, disheartened with the comments of Chief Minister that only people who don't have other issues, attack his office, BJD's Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda once again took to social networking site Facebook to express his disappointment.
Pointing once again at the babudom interference in Odisha politics, Panda stated," By now every child in Odisha knows about the said officer's massive corruption, encouragement of goondagiri, protection of criminals, and his interference in politics. It was very disheartening to see my leader, whom I have admired and supported for more than two decades, not even consider what havoc is being committed by one bad apple in the system."
On Friday, the MP had also expressed his disappointment through twitter and Facebook about dismissal of his allegations as baseless by BJD president and CM Naveen Patnaik.
Meanwhile, BJD Spokesperson Sasmit Patra, in his reply to Baliarsingh's Facebook post, said, "He should at least have some respect for media and the people of Odisha. Is he so big a personality that he doesn't want to speak to the media directly? "
“Baliarsingh can make social media a weapon, but he is unable to speak directly to the people. I think this is completely a disrespectful attitude,” added Patra.
Baliarsingh, who was an independent MLA from Satyabadi from 2004 to 2009, said, "Earlier the CM was working as per the directive of late Pyari Mohan Mohapatra and now he is being guided by a Tamil IAS officer sitting on the third floor."
He alleged Patnaik is not looking into party affairs for which many leaders have left BJD.
Besides, he also expressed displeasure over inclusion of sitting MLA Umakanta Samantray into BJD fold. Baliarsingh as a BJD candidate had earlier lost to an independent candidate Umakanta Samantray in the 2014 Assembly polls.
In his reaction, BJD spokesperson Amar Prasad Satpathy refuted the allegations and said all decisions are being taken by party Chief Naveen Patnaik.
"The CM is taking the final call and party programmes are being held in democratic way. Earlier, the party had given several responsibilities to Baliarsingh on different occasions. As now he had made up his mind, he is making such baseless statements,” said Satpathy.