• In March last, you had announced that you won't accept the post of legislature party leader. What made you change your decision?
I was in favour of a younger person leading the legislative party. We should make ways for others. I have never hankered after any post. For that reason, I had said that I was not keen to hold the post. But after three months, our party president Amit Shahji called me and insisted that I should take up the responsibility as the party needs my services. Being a disciplined party worker, there was no way I could refuse.
• Perhaps, it's a late realisation by the party...
I won't say that it's a late realisation. The party leadership at this point of time needs my services. And I have to oblige.
• Your party leaders in the state seem to be divided on the Mahanadi issue. Senior leaders are speaking in different voices. What is your stand?
Our stand is crystal clear. The interest of Odisha cannot be compromised. Chhattisgarh has provided some documents on construction activities undertaken in the upstream of the Mahanadi and its tributaries. But all the documents have not been made available till now. In our memorandum submitted to the President by the all-party panel (did not include BJD), we have dealt with these issues. We had categorically demanded review of all the projects in the Mahanadi system. The barrages already built on Mahanadi and its tributaries and all the proposed barrages need a relook. Odisha's interest should be taken into account.
• But there is a public perception that the party is divided over the issue. While Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan has argued for a joint control board, state BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra is of the view that it will be a "toothless body", while arguing in favour of a river board...
It's not a conflict of opinion. It's all created by the media. It was during my tenure as BJP state president that Bijoy Mohapatra had started the Save Mahanadi agitation. We were part of that. Had the state government realised its importance and accordingly taken steps at that time, things would not have reached this point. Both Mohapatra and Pradhan have given their opinions. All these opinions are reflected in our memorandum submitted to the President of India.
• You are the leader of BJP's legislature wing. The party is in power in Chhattisgarh and in Delhi. You must be finding it awkward to deal with the Mahanadi issue....
I am not in an awkward situation. We have the responsibility of looking after the interests of Odisha. For this, we all are united and unanimous on the point that the interest of Odisha should not be allowed to be compromised.
• Odisha and Chhattisgarh are neighbours. They are heading for a confrontation. Which way do you see things moving?
It's a dispute between the two states. What is stopping chief minister Naveen Patnaik from going across to Chhattisgarh and talking to his counterpart on this sensitive issue? Their officers on various occasions had come and met him to resolve issues. Even the chief minister had given his reply on this issue on the floor of the Assembly. It is true that they have not shared information on all the projects. But in the case of Kelo project, all information was shared. The officials of our government did not turn up at the meeting convened in New Delhi. The then water resources secretary of Odisha had also admitted that even after the Kelo dam was constructed and another hundred barrages were built on Mahanadi, Odisha won't be affected. Who is speaking the truth?
• Don't you think the issue is being politicised unnecessarily?
We may have a political point of view. But why is not the state government declaring a technical committee that will conduct feasible studies on Mahanadi projects, furnish a report and take the things forward?
The moment the central government became aware of the dispute, it immediately convened a meeting and made the two states sit and sort out their problems. While you are in Delhi you talk in one voice and you change it when you are in Bhubaneswar!
• In the last few months, we have noticed that RSS has tightened its grip on the state BJP unit. It has started intervening in the affairs of the state BJP unit. Those who are from non-RSS background have been sidelined…
I am not from RSS background. I started off as a mere karyakarta (working executive) - I could become the district president, a minister and then the state president. I assumed various responsibilities. Not once did I feel the interference of the RSS.
• You may agree or not. But, many say that factionalism is quite visible in your party…
When you build a house, you have to use different materials - steel, metal and rods. It's a mixture of every thing that builds a house. There may be different views of different people. It is a healthy practice that in a party there are different opinions. When we exchange our views and do a manas manthan (brain churning), best things come out.
• The party has already been divided into pro-Dharmendra and anti-Dharmendra camps. Those who are opposing the Union minister have been sidelined…
I don't see any pro or anti-Dharmendra camps. The BJP is one and we are all members of the party. There is no infighting here. Pradhan is an Union minister. He is doing very well as a central minister. If he has good ideas for the state, we will carry that forward. There is nothing wrong in that.
• It's a public perception that the BJP is projecting Pradhan as the chief ministerial candidate for the 2019 elections...
It is too early to say anything at the moment. If you are following the BJP, you must have noticed that nowhere has the party gone to the polls projecting anyone as its chief ministerial candidate. It's the MLAs who decide their leader. We will cross the bridge when we come to it.
• You had earlier differed with Pradhan on the issue of conservation of the Jagannath temple in Puri by the ASI...
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Puri, he had said that he should be reminded about the temple issue in New Delhi.
The same issue was taken up by the Gajapati Dibya Singha Deb. We had gone to meet the Prime Minister. I don't see any difference of opinion on the issue. I had not gone to the Prime Minister to make any complaint.
• Party MLA Dillip Ray, who had accompanied you to the Prime Minister, seems to be not feeling comfortable within the party and had even boycotted the party's event in Rourkela…
It's not right to say that Dillip Ray is feeling uncomfortable. He has his opinion. He is an elected representative and he has to take a stand on issues pertaining to his constituency. He voiced his opinion. As an elected representative, he has the moral responsibility to raise the issues affecting his constituency. He was justified in his stand. The Union minister, who was supposed to come to attend the party event, could not come due to inclement weather.
• Don't you think Naveen Patnaik is a clever and mature politician and knows how to outsmart the opposition?
Naveen babu is very mature. I will only say that he has matured enough to divert public attention from sensitive issues to secondary issues. When he feels that his party is on the back foot, he switches over to other issues. He has mastered this art.
• Despite your anti-Naveen stand, people have a perception that your central leadership is hand in glove with the BJD. State BJP leaders, including you, have been critical of the CBI's investigation to money deposit collection scam...
There is no escape for Naveen Patnaik government. The CBI will do its job in its own way.
• What's your take on cow vigilantism? The issue has been taken up by the Prime Minister, but a section of Hindus are upset with his opinion on the issue.
I am too small to comment on this. The Prime Minister knows the best. We should accept it. He is the Prime Minister of the country and not just the representative a political party. Look at the larger picture. He put forth the reports given to him.
He asked state governments to take action against the so called cow vigilantes. This may not be applicable to all the states.
