Did you ever think that a day would come when you would be on the other side of the dividing line…the state observing the birth centenary of your political mentor the late Biju Patnaik, and you are not part of it?

Many on the other side (the Biju Janata Dal, of which he was a founder member) do not know about Biju babu. He was a person who cannot be compared with the present-day politicians. He had many admirable qualities — aggressiveness, courage, knowledge and skill. He was a leader par excellence. I watched him from very close quarters for nearly 17 years — from 1980 to 1997. When he vacated Patkura Assembly seat to retain the Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat in 1980, he picked me up to represent Patkura. It was a crucial election. I got elected and 

J.B. Patnaik (former chief minister who was not a member of the Assembly) too got elected the same year in a by-election from another constituency. There was an emotional bonding with Biju babu. But the way efforts are being made to project him as the leader of a particular political party, it’s unfortunate. He belongs to the state.

You worked with Biju babu for such a long time. You were also a minister in his cabinet. in 1990-95? What according to you was his dream and vision? 

All this talk about his dream is a political gimmick by vested interests. Biju babu toured every nook and corner of the state. His vehicle  known as “Kalinga Rath” was quite popular in the state.  There was not a single village which was touched by him in his old van. Now the Deccan helicopter is more popular..... Seeing poverty and misery Odisha from the sky was not his idea, habit or dream. 

According to me, he had a feeling for Odisha. He wanted Odisha should occupy a leading position in the national scenario because of its natural resources and cultural heritage. He wanted dignity for Odisha. He had formed the Utkal Congress ( a political outfit)  to fulfill the state’s aspirations.

Is the Naveen Patnaik government focusing on Biju babu’s dreams?

About 98 per cent people of the state, who are occupying seats of power in various capacities, don’t know who was Biju babu. About half of them, who had opposed Biju babu’s style of functioning in the past, are now in the BJD. These people, who had opposed him, stoned him and deserted him, are now celebrating Biju’s birth centenary for the BJD. How can they celebrate? Besides, Biju babu is no one’s personal property. He belongs to the state. Biju babu was fond of meeting people at various places - from farmers in fields to labourers on the roadside and people in the villages. He had many dreams for Odisha. I don’t want to land into a personal controversy, but I just want to know how many times had Naveen got the opportunity to travel with Biju babu on that Kalinga Rath and visited the rural pockets of Odisha? What does Naveen know about Biju babu’s dreams?  How many people know that with one stroke of pen, he had converted 13 districts into 30. Only few people in the BJD, such as Surendra Nath Nayak and Damodar Rout, know the late leader well. Those who talk of Biju babu’s dreams are using his name to survive in politics.

You had seen Biju babu from close quarters. How did he rule the state as the chief minister between 1990-95? 

He was never dependent on the bureaucracy. He was not guided by bureaucrats. He dictated and the bureaucracy had to carry out his orders. He had publicly opposed the bureaucracy and had abused corrupt police officers.

There are many people like you in the BJP who loved Biju Patnaik. But while the central government is allocating money to celebrate the birth centenary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, no money was allocated for Biju babu’s centenary. The BJD has decided to take up this issue...

This is a very small thing. The state can celebrate Biju babu’s birth centenary out of its own resources. Why do you beg for a small amount and go to Centre and accuse somebody? In any case, this is not an all-party affair. When Harekrushna Mahatab’s birth centenary was celebrated in the state, people from all walks of life and various political parties were involved.  But in this case, it has been reduced to a party event. Narrow 
politics has played its part. I agree with Damador Rout that Biju babu is above all these things.

But Rout’s event in Paradip to celebrate the centenary of Biju babu has already created a controversy... 

Dama babu has been organising Biju’s birth anniversary events for a long time. Biju babu was the founder of the Paradip port and expressway. He had contributed a lot for the area.  Earlier, the Paradip Port Trust used to organise his birth anniversary. People, who have never worked with Biju babu and don’t know the history of Odisha, are now opposing it (Rout’s Paradip celebrations) for their political gains.
 
The state is demanding the highest civilian award —Bharat Ratna for Biju babu.  How do you react to it?

I won’t comment on this. He is highly regarded and respected by everyone. That is the highest tribute to this great 
personality.

Perhaps the BJP is not considering the state’s demand because Biju babu was known for his critical view on the RSS.

It’s part of history that Biju babu and George Fernandes had toppled the Moraraji Desai Government in the late ‘70s on the issue of the erstwhile Jansangh (a constituent of Janata Party) maintaining its relationship with the RSS… 
Very few people know that towards the end of his life, his attitude towards the BJP had changed. Even he had a good rapport with Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Pramod Mahajan used to visit Biju babu. Both Atalji and Biju babu used to discuss what could be done for the state. Biju babu was the architect of the United Front governments led by HD Dev Gowda and IK Gujral. But he had wanted to form a regional party because the Congress was supporting the United Front government at the Centre (while in the state, the Congress and Janata Dal were at loggerheads).

Why did Biju babu lose the 1995 elections. There were allegations that some leaders had sabotaged his winning prospects?

There was no sabotage. We lost the elections because of many factors, including wrong selection of candidates. The atmosphere was against us and JB Patnaik capitalised on this.

People are of the view that you have made a number of wrong moves in your political career. Which mistake has cost you dearly according to you? 

I have committed a number of mistakes knowingly and unknowingly. But I am not a person who looks behind. I always look forward and move ahead.
 
After K.V. Singh Deo (former state BJP chief), everyone had expected that you would be given the reins of the party as you are popular across the state. But Basanta Panda was picked up for the assignment. Do you feel secured in the party anymore?

I am not insecure. We have extended all support to him (Basanta Panda) and hope that the party will leap forward under his leadership.

Union tribal welfare minister Jual Oram and other BJP state leaders always speak against the Naveen Patnaik government and criticise him at the slightest provocation. But, we have noticed both the BJP president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi continue to be silent on Naveen. Is it because of the political compulsion that the BJP requires BJD’s support in the Rajya Sabha? 

I will not comment on that.

Is it because of your compulsion that you won’t comment on this issue?

No. That’s not the issue. I don’t want to comment.

There is a perception that the BJP has a secret understanding with the BJD and it does not want to disturb Naveen...

The party will take the right decision at the right time. None of the party leaders have said that we will have an alliance.
 
There is a public perception that you are always critical of Naveen...

I cannot make any comment on public perception. Let me just make it clear that I am not personally against Naveen Patnaik. I am critical of his government’ style of functioning.

When Biju babu passed away in 1997, all of you had decided to bring Naveen to politics. What was the compulsion?  

The decision was taken at the spur of the moment. Biju babu’s family did not agree to enter into politics. Biju babu was opposed to family politics. But, the party was in a crisis. We were like orphans after his death. So, we decided to ask him to take up the mantle. The bigger question at that time was how to run the party. He benefited from this political scenario. But, Naveen is not a leader of the masses and he cannot be regarded as one. 

But Naveen has proved his popularity by winning four Assembly elections in a row...

That is true. The history will also be written like that. But, he cannot be called a mass leader. By adopting certain strategies, he can win the elections. By becoming chief minister for four times, you cannot call yourself a mass leader.

RATNA CRY GROWS LOUDER

Ahead of Biju Patnaik’s centenary that falls tomorrow, ANWESHA AMBALY of The Telegraph speaks to a cross-section of youngsters about their opinions over Bharat Ratna demand for the leader