Don't you think it would have been better if chief minister Naveen Patnaik had called an all-party meeting to take a united stand on the Mahanadi dispute? As he did not convene the meeting, the leader of Opposition convened one on the issue...
Why are you asking the question to me? It should be addressed to Naveen Patnaik. If I open my mouth, you media people will write that I am defying Naveen Patnaik. Sorry gentleman, I will not contradict the stand taken by my leader on this issue. I will silently continue to write about my opinion on Mahanadi hoping that the chief minister and the party cadres can understand my opinion.
But why were you critical of the all-party meeting?
We people are forgetting the basic issue. Take the example of the Polavaram dam project. The project had kicked off during the UPA regime despite our protests. While the Centre has given forest and other clearances to the project, a dozen proposals sent by Odisha on other projects are still pending with them. On the Polavarm case, Odisha had approached the Government of India, Central Water Commission and even the court. When the matter was undecided, Narendra Modi came to power declared it as a national project. In this case, the BJP had extended support to the Congress in Andhra Pradesh. Now, it's the turn of Congress to lend its support to BJP in Chhattisgarh. Both the Congress and the BJP are in cahoots to jeopardise the interests of Odisha. Why did Narasingha Mishra not ask his counterpart in Chhattisgarh to oppose Raman Singh, keeping the principle of federalism in mind?
You should have appreciated Mishra as he had risen above party lines and decided to call an all-party meeting in the larger interest of the state...
Why didn't the Pradesh Congress Committee president attend? One cannot rise above the party. He is a party man. Mishra had called for the meeting without consulting the party. Even his party president said he did not endorse it. In fact, it was a meeting of factional leaders. On the same day, leaders of the CPI had called on Naveen Patnaik and expressed their support to fight against Chhattisgarh.
You are critical of the party's stand on the issue, particularly organising kalash yatra to save the Mahanadi and also other issues such as organising the centenary of Biju Patnaik...
How can I object to the party and the government's stand? I am just expressing my feelings. The situation has reached such a point that the kalash yatra cannot resolve the issue. I don't agree with ruling party MLAs and ministers holding demonstrations before the district collectorates. Does it look nice? Is a collector competent to deal with an inter-state issue? Now, the time has come for people to say if they are denied water from the Mahanadi, Odisha will not send coal to other states. The government has no role to play in this. The people have to take a stand. It is for Narendra Modi to intervene and settle it.
Your party colleagues say you always differ with the party's decision...
I am the vice-president of the party. Has any anybody ever come to me while deciding a programme? When discussions were held to observe Biju babu's centenary, I denounced the attempts made by a few people to make him a property of the party. He is a national figure. I observed his centenary at Paradip with leaders of all parties. The fact is that those who have not seen Biju babu will not understand him and those who had earlier opposed him are now taking the lead in organising the centenary.
By saying this, you may invite the ire of the leadership...
After completing 40 years in public life, representing a constituency seven times and having served as a minister in governments headed by Nilamani Routray, Biju babu and Naveen babu , what portfolio have I been given now? Is it not sufficient indication that I am not in the leadership's favour?
Why don't you resign if you feel humiliated?
I am not a coward. I am a follower of Biju babu, a political person committed to a particular ideology. As long as I continue to enjoy the pleasure of the chief minister, I will continue to serve as minister.
But everyone feels you have been sidelined in the party...
If anyone feels that way, it's a kind of reward. During my tenure as excise minister, there has been no hooch tragedy and the department's revenue has also increased. It speaks of my efficiency.
What should be done at this moment to solve the Mahanadi issue?
It's unethical on the part of the Chhattisgarh government to go ahead with the projects without consulting the co-basin state. No one should forget that we are providing water from the Indravati to Chhattisgarh for irrigation purposes. When the Cauvery water dispute came into the limelight, it was Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had settled it. In the past, Jawaharlal Nehru had done the same job. Now it's Modi's turn to intervene and settle it without ignoring Odisha's interest. At the same time, we should build embankments and execute Subala project as people opposed the Manibhadra project on the Mahanadi.
Don't you think that we have failed to increase our irrigation potential...
Yes, we have failed.
But in its election manifesto, your party promised 35 per cent irrigation in each block...
They might be doing so. I am ensuring this in my constituency (providing 35 per cent irrigation).
Don't you think the state government failed to prevent the situation in Nagada where 19 children died due to malnourishment?
Why are you accusing Naveen Patnaik? He has given Rs 2,240 crore to eradicate malnutrition. But here, the pertinent question is whether this money is reaching the people or not. It's a collective responsibility. There are bureaucrats who draw fat salaries...there are people's representatives and Anaganwadi workers. Even the media, which is the watchdog of democracy, has a responsibility. Is the Opposition, which is known as the shadow government, doing its duty? The NGOs also have some responsibility. As free citizens, we are getting all benefits from the state. In a nutshell, I can say all this is happening because we lack a humane approach. You cannot blame the government alone.
You are always critical of the bureaucracy and court controversy...
We have 11 per cent of the country's water resources. At this moment, 67 per cent water goes to the sea and is wasted. Who is planning for the state - ministers or officers? What have they been doing over the years? Without thinking about the people's food habits, work culture, religious faith and social customs, why are they making such plans?
According to the Constitution, ministers are at the helm of affairs. Why are you blaming the bureaucrats?
Knowing everything, why are you putting this question to me? Can you say really that it's the ministers who are taking decisions and ruling the state?
Perhaps, you are scared of losing your job...
I am not scared of anything. I fearlessly do my job. But, I alone can't change everything. It's the collective responsibility of the political leadership. If they surrender to the babus, such things will happen. Here, I would like to recall something that happened during Biju babu's regime in 1990. A lady collector was a terror in Sundargarh. She attempted to arrest the Sundargarh MLA. Biju babu asked me if I could manage the officer, to which I agreed. She was transferred to my department. After joining, the lady officer said that as she was giving priority to public interests, she had earned the wrath of the political establishment. My reply was: "Who has authorised you to do this? I was voted to power to look after the interest of the people and it's your duty to carry out the order of the minister."
Do ministers enjoy the same kind of clout now?
Let us not make an issue of it. You know everything.
In the recent past, you had heaped praise on the Union minister of state for petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan, but suddenly have become critical of him. Why?
I was attending a meeting where Pradhan was present. He praised me and I reciprocated. As an Odia, I feel proud that without going to the Rajya Sabha from Odisha, he has been given an important portfolio. However, I got upset after seeing him busy with self-propaganda. I was irritated after seeing posters of Pradhan alongside those of Naveen, who is the most popular chief minister.
You are at loggerheads with many leaders from Cuttack district. You had even raised your voice when Anita Behera was asked to resign as Cuttack mayor. They don't like your intervention.
Who are they in Cuttack? When the Janata Dal was very weak, Biju babu had asked me to strengthen the party in Cuttack. The same people were trying to disrupt Biju babu's meeting... I am not going to join the issue with sub-standard people. I want to make it clear that I never interfere in the affairs of Cuttack. But, I aired my feelings saying it was not appropriate to ask her to resign.
Is the BJD in a comfortable position in Cuttack?
You will see it in the next election.
