Your name has been dragged into a new controversy. It is alleged that you had misbehaved with a lady minister at your chamber in the Assembly during the last budget session. What’s the truth?

The so-called news item (reported in an Odia daily) did not carry names but it was intended at damaging the images of two ministers — one is a lady and the other is a man. The news item was designed in such a way that a reader can guess who the ministers are. Such a news items indicates the low standard of the journalist of that newspaper, whose owner is a leader of our party (BJD).

There must be some element of truth in it. Why did such a news item come against you and not against others?

This particular man has a history of writing such controversial stories from his younger days. I want to make it clear that I am not taking any legal action against them because I don’t want to give importance to such baseless allegations. The report was written with an ill intention. People of Odisha know me, my personality, my position in politics and the character I have exhibited in public life.

What was the ill-intention? Who are the people who are working against you? Can you elaborate on it?

(Laughs) It is a product of jealousy of those suffering from inferiority complex. They are intolerant of my popularity. There is an adage that all that glitters is not gold. Nowadays, low-grade people are entering politics.

Do you say that these people are also there in your party?

Maybe. I don’t deny. However, I don’t want to name these people. The people of the state are well aware of them. They know these people and their intentions.

But why is it that you are always surrounded by one controversy or the other? In the past, you have already paid for it. On a few occasions, you were dropped from the ministry because of this. It may cost you dearly, politically, in the coming days.

I never raise any issue. You people (media) come to me with a range of issues and seek my opinion. When asked, I call a spade a spade. I cannot say something to amuse others. I don't work for somebody’s appeasement. On the other hand, I have never thought of paying any price because I am on the right path always. If you are on the right path, nothing can affect you.

Dama Babu and controversies are inseparable. Don’t you feel embarrassed when such controversies crop up? You must be feeling low before the eyes of your family members. You have grown grandchildren.

(Laughs) I have never been embarrassed by any controversy… My family members know me and my character. When such news appear, they just laugh it off and feel pity for those who are trying to malign me.

Rumours are abound that an exercise has begun to oust you from the ministry as you are raising issues that are inconveniencing your party colleagues.

(Pauses) Who will remain in the ministry or not is the prerogative of the chief minister. As long as I am enjoying the confidence and goodwill of the chief minister, I will be there. I am sure that during the last 40 years (in politics), I have exhibited solidarity in enhancing the image of my party and its leader. I started my career in the anti-Congress politics. I was taught by Biju Patnaik to serve the people and the state and to keep my dignity.

I have been working hard to enhance the image and popularity of my present leader Naveen Patnaik and the BJD.

Are you upset with the leadership that your son was not given a ticket in the last Assembly elections and your daughter was not given the mayor’s post in the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation?

This is a bogus accusation against me. It has no basis at all. How can a devoted soldier of Biju Patnaik promote family politics? I know that the moment I start involving my children in politics, the love and affection I am enjoying from the people of the state as well as that of my constituency will vanish.

Another controversy — land and house allotment under discretionary quota from the government agencies — has hit the state. A task force (a committee of three officials) has been constituted to examine the case. What is your view?

Those who have got land and plots under the discretionary quota should not only return their plots, they should also be penalised along with those who were instrumental in allotting such land and plots violating the well-established guidelines. No one is above law. Those who have violated the law should be prosecuted.

There has been a debate over the formation of the task force. There is a perception that the task force will not be able to deliver justice as it will not be able to report against the government, particularly against their political masters.

(Pauses) It is not for my satisfaction (that the task force has been constituted.) The chief minister has appointed the task force to ascertain facts pertaining to allegations of favouritism and nepotism on the land and house allotment. On the issue of satisfaction, how does it matter to me? About the public perception on the task force, I can say that it was not the public perception, but perception of a section of the media. A section of the media and a section of people have been levelling allegations against Naveen Patnaik for the past 14 years. But in successive elections, the popularity of our leader and the party are soaring high.

In the money deposit scam, the CBI is raiding residences of politicians, which include an MLA and an MP of your party to find out their alleged links with these companies. A photograph of yours attending a function in which one of the accused persons was present has appeared in the media. The CBI has seized a few photographs.

The cases are under CBI investigation. Let the inquiry reveal the involvement of people in public life with those ponzy companies. All should wait till their investigation is completed. During a meeting to celebrate the co-operative week, the organisers had invited then governor and me as guests. We attended the function. But we did not know that the organiser was fleecing the people.

Coming to your department, when will elections to the co-operatives be held?

According to the 97th Constitutional amendment, elections to the co-operative bodies are mandatory. The Supreme Court has allowed us to go ahead with the elections. We will promulgate an ordinance to defer the elections by six more months so that we can prepare the machinery to conduct the elections smoothly.

How do you see your political future?

I am in active politics and I will continue to be in politics. The people have bestowed their love and affection on me and I will always make my best efforts to rise up to their expectations.