IN LINE OF FIRE

Bhubaneswar, July 1: The Congress today questioned the credibility of chief minister Naveen Patnaik in playing “the tribal card” in favour of Opposition nominee P.A. Sangma for the presidential polls.

“Naveen’s sole consideration is political and is aimed at garnering tribal votes in the state in the next general elections,” said Pradesh Congress Committee chief spokesman Narasingha Mishra.

“If he is so keen that a tribal leader should hold the highest office in the country, he should have first ensured that a tribal heads his party (Biju Janata Dal),” said Mishra, while pointing out that not a single tribal leader occupied any organisational post in the BJD.

“Where were Naveen and Sangma when police opened fire on agitating tribals in Kalinga Nagar in 2006?” asked Mishra. He said leaders of various political parties, including Sonia Gandhi, had visited Kalinga Nagar to console the bereaved families. Ridiculing Naveen’s claim of being “pro-tribal”, he said that 25 tribals were killed in police firings across the state during his 12-year regime. Fourteen tribals were fell to police bullets in Kalinga Nagar on January 2, 2006. The palms of the firing victims were also found to be chopped off.

Mishra also questioned the role of the Naveen Patnaik government during the Kandhamal riots in 2008 in which the tribals and Dalits fought against each other.

The attack on Sangma and Naveen by the Congress assumes significance as Sangma’s candidature has been proposed by the BJD.

Naveen was the first Opposition chief minister to come out in support of the former Lok Sabha Speaker. Besides, UPA presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to visit Odisha on July 11 for campaigning.

BJD vice-president Damodar Rout reacted sharply to Mishra’s outbursts and described his statements as “panic reaction”.

Rout said the Congress was afraid of cross-voting by party MPs and MLAs in favour of Sangma.

“We are not at all worried about winning the presidential poll. We are sure that the Congress votes will not be affected at all,” said Mishra.

In the 147-member Odisha Assembly, the BJD has 17 tribal members, while the Congress has 12, and the BJP three. Also, there is one independent member from the tribal community.