You are the state co-ordinator of the BJD’s Aama Sahara, Ama Unnati (Our City, Our Development) and Ama Gaon, Ama Vikash (Our Village, Our Development) programmes. It seems your party is now competing with the BJP and trying to match its Mo Booth Sabutharu Majboot (My booth is the strongest)…
We have a strong organisation and we have been with the people for the past 17 years. As the BJP is new to the state, they are trying to reach out to people. To them, everything looks new and they are enthusiastic about it. Being an old organisation, we have our own routine programmes.
But public perception is that the BJD, which has been in power for the past 17 years, is scared of the BJP after the panchayat elections in which the party did not perform up to expectations.
We are not scared of the BJP. The panchayat election is not the sole indicator. They had only concentrated on zila parishads. In most blocks, the BJD has formed panchayat samitis and gram panchayats with the help of sarpanchs and ward members through whom all the development works are done.
But you have to admit that the BJP is emerging as a big force in the state and they pose a serious threat to BJD...
No one is denying that the BJP is an emerging party. They are in power at the Centre with an absolute majority. They have grown as there was a vacuum created by the Congress. They are now visible. So, there is nothing wrong about the BJP dreaming of coming to power. But the ground reality is different. Even smaller parties, such as the CPI and the CPM, organise programmes with the elections in mind. That does not mean that they are going to win.
The way you are celebrating an award given to chief minister Naveen Patnaik by a weekly magazine has raised eyebrows. Even the BJP has questioned it…
Naveen Patnaik's efforts to take the state on the path of development should not be underestimated. We have succeeded in reducing poverty, and also implemented the Forest Rights Act in a big way. Besides, according to an Assocham report, Odisha is one of the leading states in attracting investment. What’s wrong in celebrating this achievement? We should rise above narrow political
considerations.
While you are talking about reduction of poverty and other issues, the state also has darker side like deaths of children by malnutrition in Nagada...
More than 63 children died in a hospital in Gorakhpur due to want of oxygen and that occurred in Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s parliamentary constituency. Naveen has fared much better. The award to him was given by a magazine of national repute. It chose Naveenji based on some criteria and principles. You should appreciate the good work he has done. Is the media not highlighting the prime minister’s Mann Ki Baat programmes? How did the former Gujarat chief minister become prime minister of the country? Everyone projects the good work done by him or her. The BJP had made surgical strike an issue as if it had not happened earlier. When they
introduced the GST, we welcomed it. So any good thing should always be appreciated and welcomed.
You had made the dispute about the Mahanadi river with Chhattisgarh a major political plank before the panchayat polls. Now, with the Centre agreeing to the proposal to set up a tribunal, your party seems to be losing an issue that it would have cashed in on during the next elections…
Being a regional party, we have to look at the regional aspirations and needs. As we are the state’s leading party, we have to take care of all these issues. People have been voting us to power since 2000. Being a regional party, it’s our responsibility to take up issues affecting the people at large, be it the Mahanadi or special category state status for Odisha. We are taking up the issue of Polavaram dam, which is going to affect south Odisha and the issue of minimum
support price for agricultural produce.
What is the party’s stand on the Mahanadi issue at the moment?
Certain regulations were put into place at the time of the Hirakud dam project. Of the 20 million acre feet water, Chhattisgarh was to keep eight million acre feet and the remainder was to be allowed to flow. There was to be no construction on the upper Mahanadi basin without due approval of the authorities. The Chhattisgarh government has violated all these things. Our fight over the Mahanadi is three-fold — we are fighting on the legal front and have achieved something in the form of setting up of a tribunal. But as the legal process is cumbersome and we want the water flow during lean periods to be maintained and it should not be allowed to become a dry river. The release of water during floods should be effectively regulated. The tribunal will decide the quantum of water to be distributed and there should be a mechanism to implement it. We cannot remain spectators. Thirdly, our job is to motivate the people and tell them about the need to protect the river. Even voluntary organisations are joining the movement and all political parties should join the struggle.
You were the industries minister and had raised the issue of share of taxes with the Indian Oil Corporation’s oil refinery project in Paradip. Now, the issue has been resolved. How do you look at the settlement?
It’s good that an amicable settlement has been reached on the issue and Odisha’s concern on the tax front has been addressed. But other bigger issues such as the petrochemical complex should also be addressed. In 2010, then Planning Commission, headed by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, had planned for five petrochemical complexes in the country. The Odisha government has already given more than 3,400 hectares for the complex. Setting up of the downstream industries should be taken up. Once the downstream industries come up, it will solve the unemployment problem to a great extent. Let them set up the petrochemical complex first and many Odia entrepreneurs will come up. I still recall that Veerappa Moily had suggested a polypropylene and naphthalene cracker unit in 2014. Many such units should be set up there.
How is your life after being dropped from the ministry?
When I was minister for school and mass education and industries, I did not find time to look after my constituency. Now, it has changed. I have been assigned with some tasks for the party organisation, I am doing it and also enjoying it.
But, are you really enjoying your life after being dropped from the ministry?
This is not the first time that I have been dropped from the ministry. I was dropped in 2001 as well. At that time, I had taken part in various debates in the Assembly and the party leader brought me back into the ministry. One has to remember that a leader shuffles his ministry with regional and sub-regional aspirations in mind. We have 117 MLAs and it’s a tough task to always strike a balance in the ministry. But, Naveen babu is doing it.
As you have been given a level playing field, you are enjoying it now. But what about the nine others who had also been dropped from the ministry?
They have also been given some work for the party and they are doing their job. Five to six of them have already toured
districts on organisational assignments.
But in a regional party, it’s only the ministers who can move things...
That’s not the question. If you are capable, you can do many things wherever you work.
