Chairman of 5T and Nabin Odisha, VK Pandian during a recent podcast with ANI, in what was his first ever interview, made many revelations in the context of Odisha’s politics, bureaucracy and Naveen Patnaik led Biju Janata Dal, of which he formally became a member two months ago after taking voluntary retirement from All India Civil Services.
The BJD leader spoke about a lot of things – starting from Biju Patnaik’s legacy, the Centre-state ties, devolution of central funds, the systemic improvements, Congress allegations of fixed match between BJD and BJP, on whether he is contesting the polls, and more.
During the interview, Pandian also made some claims which were later countered by Ruben Banerjee, the senior journalist who has penned the biography of Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik.
When the conversation dived into development of tribal-dominated Kalahandi, VK Pandian claimed in the interview that during chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s time, the face of Kalahandi changed as he transformed the drought or grey areas into green areas. However, Ruben Banerjee termed it as false claim. According to him, Kalahandi's transformation from basket case to bread basket happened before Naveen Odisha.
Speaking on the Centre-state ties, VK Pandian mentioned that all central schemes are not accepted by the Odisha Government but the BJD-led-government chooses what’s good for the nation. He even said that BJD opposed the Farm Bills and National Register of Citizens or NRC bill. However, Banerjee again countered that there were no actual votes for these bills. He also highlighted that BJD wanted to have better look at the Farm Bills and it supported CAA, respectively. Banerjee said, "Did BJD vote against BJP's Farm Bills. No! For that matter, there was no actual vote in Rajya Sabha. BJD wanted Bills to be sent to Standing Committee for deeper look. Bills were passed with voice vote finally and BJD MPs did not have to cast individual votes”.
VK Pandian also remembered his recruitment days and said that his IAS Academy Director in 2000 asked him choose Odisha citing that an honest man Naveen Patnaik has become the CM. To this statement, Ruben Banerjee questioned how did the director know in 2000 that Naveen Patnaik who was new in his first individual job was honest?
Raising questions with constructive criticism, the senior journalist has for sure turned heads.
Published: Devbrat Patnaik
Last updated: 15 February 2024, 09:18 PM IST
Railway infrastructure development in Kendrapara is because of whose efforts? The ruling BJD has been strongly criticized for allegedly eyeing to take the credit for railway projects, which were initiated and completed under active supervision of BJP national vice-president and Kendrapara Lok Sabha candidate Baijayant Panda in coordination with Central ministers.
For the last eight days, forest fires have been raging in various parts of the eco-sensitive Similipal Sanctuary in the Mayurbhanj district. Amid a severe heat wave, the heat generated by the forest fire has made life miserable for the people living in the areas surrounding Similipal.
A recent data revealed that INFLATION RATE IN ODISHA WAS HIGHEST IN MARCH 2024 as compared to other states and union territories in the country.
The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police has formed a Highly Efficient Response (or HER) team to take stringent action against road romeos who cause trouble for women and girls in the Twin city.
Railway infrastructure development in Kendrapara is because of whose efforts? The ruling BJD has been strongly criticized for allegedly eyeing to take the credit for railway projects, which were initiated and completed under active supervision of BJP national vice-president and Kendrapara Lok Sabha candidate Baijayant Panda in coordination with Central ministers.
For the last eight days, forest fires have been raging in various parts of the eco-sensitive Similipal Sanctuary in the Mayurbhanj district. Amid a severe heat wave, the heat generated by the forest fire has made life miserable for the people living in the areas surrounding Similipal.
Copyright © 2024 - Odisha Television Limited All Rights Reserved.