Bhubaneswar: The BJD on Wednesday accused Jagi Mangat Panda, who is CII, eastern region, chairperson and wife of suspended party MP Baijayant 'Jay' Panda, of being behind the business body's decision to pull out from the Make in Odisha conclave scheduled in November this year.
However, Jagi asked the BJD "not to drag" her into politics and maintained that she would lend support to the investment meet.
Talking to the media, BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said: "After she took charge of the eastern region on March 17, the industrial body has taken a negative approach towards Odisha. Everything was on track till February, but within 18 days of her appointment, the CII refused to partner the state government."
After Baijayant Panda was suspended from the BJD, the rivalry between his family and the party has further intensified. The BJD is boycotting all the programmes, including debates and discussions, on the TV channel owned by the family. Jagi is the managing director of Ortel Communications that owns the channel.
Describing the decision as "disappointing", the BJD on Wednesday said: "We have a strong suspicion that Jagi Panda is behind it. There is a big conspiracy being hatched to derail Odisha's progress for personal gains. The stand taken by the CII is influenced by Jagi Panda's desire to settle political scores on behalf of her husband and it is utterly despicable."
The Make in Odisha conclave was started after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had exhorted states to have their own event in line with his Make in India programme.
Deb said: "The CII had participated in the preparatory meeting of the Make in Odisha conclave on January 12, 2018. Even it had submitted an estimated budget for the conclave on January 17. On February 14, it had sent a list of coordinators for the business meet. But the way it suddenly backed out gives rise to a suspicion that some conspiracy is being hatched to stop the conclave."
He said: "Our suspicion has become stronger after two CII functionaries - state council president Arun Mishra and vice- president Subrat Tripathy - resigned from their posts."
Mishra is the vice-president of Tata's Gopalpur project and Tripathy is the CEO of Dhamra Port. Tripathy told The Telegraph: "I quit due to conflict of interest with the interest of state."
Urging the BJD not to drag her into politics, Jagi said: "Let them do politics with Baijayant Panda as he is directly involved in politics. I am doing business for the last 25 years. We have given employment opportunities to more than 3,000 youths of the state in our company. I sincerely want that the growth of the industry here in Odisha."
She further said: "As the chairperson of the eastern region, I will extend all support to the Make in Odisha conclave. I wish the conclave a success."
