Bhubaneswar, June 4: A hint of rebellion has struck a discordant note with state BJP notwithstanding the euphoria generated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Balasore last Thursday.
The party's national executive member and Rourkela MLA Dilip Ray has said he would not take part in the Vikas Parva programme being organised by the party there on June 6 to showcase the achievements of NDA government during the last two years of its rule. Union steel minister Narendra Singh Tomar is likely to attend the programme.
The show of defiance by Ray, who is protesting against the Prime Minister not fulfilling his assurance to upgrade Rourkela's Ispat General Hospital (IGH) into a super-speciality hospital-cum-medical college, is likely to embarrass the party though a section of state BJP leaders view this as nothing more than pressure tactics from the former Union minister.
Ray, who was a minister in the Biju Patnaik-led Janata Dal government and then held important portfolios at the Centre, expressed self-righteous indignation at the Union steel ministry's failure to execute the super-speciality hospital project despite a clear-cut announcement in this regard by the Prime Minister at a public meeting in Rourkela on April 1 last year when he inaugurated the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP)'s expansion project.
"Modiji had made two announcements - one about the upgrade of IGH into a super-speciality hospital-cum-medical college and the other about the construction of the second bridge over river Brahmani. He had given these assurances also during his election campaign in the city. While the bridgework is likely to start by September-October with a work order to be issued shortly, there has hardly been any progress on the hospital project except the appointment of a consultant.
"I have met Union steel minister Narendra Singh Tomar individually and also with Sundergarh MP and Union tribal affairs Jual Oram, urging him to expedite the project. I have also met the top executive of SAIL several times, but to no avail," complained Ray.
The leader, who had joined the BJP in March 2009 after a long innings in the BJD and a brief dalliance with the Congress, said he was feeling let down and had decided to boycott the Vikas Parva programme in Rourkela as a mark of protest. "Party workers will be there, but I will not attend. Our opponents are asking all kinds of questions because we have not been able to keep our promises," said Ray, adding that he planned to meet the Prime Minister in the second week of June to apprise him of the ground reality in Rourkela and how his promises were not being honoured.
Asked why did not he take up the issue with the Prime Minister in Balasore on Thursday, Ray said the occasion was not right nor was there any time to discuss such things during the rally. Incidentally, in the wake of the rally, there has been speculation about Ray and stalwarts such as Bijay Mohapatra being miffed with the leadership, more so because the latter did not address the gathering against expectations.
Ray dismissed such talk as rumours. However, his decision to stay away from the Vikas Parva in Rourkela might lend credence to this theory. However, Union minister for tribal affairs Jual Oram, who happens to be BJP's Lok Sabha member from Sundergarh, indicated that efforts would be made to placate Ray. He also said that steps were being taken to expedite the super-speciality hospital project.
On the other hand, state BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma sought to make light of Ray's aggressive posturing. "I hope he will take part in the programme," said Sharma, even as another set of party leaders described the former minister's stance as pressure tactics.
"He is taking the high moral ground as the strategy might work. It will also raise his stock within the party," said a BJP leader, requesting anonymity.
