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lDo you think the Congress has a good chance of coming back to power in Odisha in 2014?
I have become the party president at a very bad time. This is a fact. When the Congress was going strong in Odisha, I never got the opportunity to play a big role. Though I have assumed responsibility at the wrong time, I am hopeful that things will revive.
lWill it be easy considering the host of welfare measures that the BJD government has announced in the past one year to boost its image, the latest being the Re 1-a-kg rice scheme for BPL families?
In 2009, the Congress, in its manifesto, had mentioned that rice at Re 1 per kg would be provided to poor. But we got only a few votes. So, if people of Odisha have self-esteem, they will not vote for BJD either. BJD will suffer for this.
lDo you feel that schemes like free bicycles for school students or Mamata for pregnant and nursing women will also backfire?
Is Mamata a BJD scheme? No! It is Centre-sponsored. And the expenses for the free bicycles scheme are being met from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Must the Relief Fund be used for free bicycles? Another example is the free blankets scheme. The government put up huge banners in all villages with Naveen Patnaik’s pictures on them. Do you know that money for the purpose came from Gaon Kalyan Samiti? Is that the legal utilisation of village committee money?
lBut ultimately, isn’t it the poor who is benefiting out of these schemes?
The BJD government is taking Odias for granted. Their leaders think that by providing cheap rice and other freebies to the poor, they will earn votes and do whatever they like. He is just exploiting Odisha’s poverty situation and ignorance of people, as well as taking credit for Centre-sponsored schemes. Why not ensure good education and good health care instead of giving alms?
lSo, you think rice at Re 1-a-kg won’t make a visible impact?
What is the state’s contribution to the cheap rice scheme? It is giving only Rs 4 as subsidy for each kg while the Centre is giving four times of that. If this is such a well-intentioned government, why oppose cash transfer of subsidy? Why not agree to give three extra cooking gas cylinders at subsidised rates when the Centre is giving nine?
The BJD has absolutely no scheme for the middle class or lower middle class people.
lDespite all this, why do most people still support the BJD and lack confidence in the Congress?
We have not been able to build proper leadership from the grassroots till the top. But this time, we will bring in more youths and women to contest elections. Around 30 lakh youths in Odisha are unemployed. Is there any programme for them?
lBut the government has decided to provide skill development training programme to 10 lakh youths to ensure their employability by 2017.
This is a joke. This promise was made long back! Sadly, the absence of activities by other political parties has given BJD an advantage.
lThere is a view that people don’t trust the Congress apparently because its leaders are corrupt.
After 15 years of Naveen Patnaik’s regime, would you say that Congress leaders are more corrupt than BJD leaders?
What is this MoU system? Is industrialisation meant for prosperity of a state or minting money by sacrificing people’s happiness?
lThere are allegations that your family members are engaged in illegal mining business. Vigilance department has also lodged cases against some of them. What would you say about this?
Naveen Patnaik’s father (late chief minister Biju Patnaik) was a mine owner in my district, Keonjhar. He relinquished the mines in 1961 and no dues have been paid to the government until now.
When outsiders are freely mining here on thousands of acres, why shouldn’t an Odia family do so?
My family has been involved in mining prior to Independence. We have just a few hundred acres, that too, all rejected mines.
lSo, you are saying there is nothing illegal?
My family might have made mistakes. I have always favoured a CBI inquiry. Why don’t you book them if they are in the wrong?
Is there a single case against a mine owner other than those against my family members? The government is utilising the vigilance for political gains. Why else is it reluctant for a CBI inquiry?
lMany Congress leaders are apparently dissatisfied with your leadership and have also made public statements in this regard.
I am not aware of that.
lThere are reports of internal squabbles in your party. Would you say the Congress state unit is still united?
Do you think the BJD is more united than us? There are differences in every political party but we are more united than any other party in Odisha.
Student leader to politician
A four-time MLA from Keonjhar, Niranjan Patnaik (67) heads the Odisha unit of Congress. He completed graduation from the Gangadhar Meher College, Sambalpur, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in law from Madhusudan Law College, Cuttack
lAn active student leader, he took part in several agitations launched by the Congress party and courted arrest
lIn 1973, Patnaik was elected as chairman of Keonjhar Municipality. He was also the president of Keonjhar cooperative bank and state cooperative bank.
lHe formally entered active politics in 1980 and by two years, had become a full-time member of the All India Congress Committee
lHe served as minister in different stints under the Congress regime in the state, handling portfolios like industries, energy, health and family welfare, and water resources
lHe succeeded K.P. Singhdeo as the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president in June 2011What would you have been had you not entered politics?
I am not sure. But I feel that I was destined to become a politician because I always wanted to serve the people. As a child, I used to paint paper or broad leaves in tricolour hues and hoist it from the terrace, shouting “Mahatma Gandhi zindabad” or “Bharat Maa ki jai”. At times, I would even take the kids of our area to the rooftop and make them listen to my dreams. I wore khadi and took part in student movements in college. But on second thoughts, I would have been a lawyer had I not entered politics.
