Sambalpur (Odisha): A gaffe by BJD leader VK Pandian on eminent poets of Odisha during an election campaign here on Friday has provided a new weapon to the BJP, which has challenged the bureaucrat-turned-politician on the issue of 'Oriya asmita (pride)'. Was attacked. ,
Pandian, a close aide of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, took names of some eminent personalities of the state and wondered what the BJP has done for them.
He addressed the 19th century poet 'Swabhav Kabi' Gangadhar Mehar as 'Santha Kabi' and the poet and social reformer 'Santha Kabi' Bhima Bhoi of the same era as 'Kabi', giving fuel to the BJP's 'Oriya identity' issue.
State BJP president Manmohan Samal said, "This is not a printing mistake...it is a cognizable offence..."
However, BJD's Sambalpur candidate and former minister Rohit Pujari said it was a "slip of the tongue".
Congress candidate from Sambalpur Durga Prasad Padhi also criticized Pandian for wrongly taking the names of those eminent personalities.“These BJD people have no respect for Odia poets. Even the Chief Minister is not able to name the big personalities properly.
Pandian was born in Tamil Nadu, studied in Delhi and started his career as a Punjab cadre IAS officer, but moved to the Odisha cadre after marrying an Odia. The BJP has been calling him an "outsider" in Odisha politics.
While attacking senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan, Pandian mentioned the names of many great personalities. The BJD leader asked him what he had done for these eminent persons despite being in the Union ministry for 10 years.
The BJD leader also raised questions on Pradhan's contribution to the development of Sambalpuri dialect and its culture.Pandian said, “Koshali language is the identity of Sambalpur. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote to the Center five times to include it in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Why did this not happen despite your party being in power for 10 years?”
Apart from this, Pandian also asked what the Union Minister has done to promote Sambalpuri saree in the last 10 years.
The Chief Minister has announced several packages for the weavers of the western region including Sambalpur.
“Despite being a cabinet minister, he could not set up a textile park here.The Chief Minister has established Kala Bhoomi, a museum dedicated to Odisha handlooms. He also built the Krishi Bhavan, which had a distinctive brick facade inspired by the Ika patterns of Sambalpuri sarees, Pandian said, and the building also won a Global Architecture Award.
The BJD leader also claimed that Patnaik has spent crores of rupees on memorials of many prominent personalities of the state and has also named a state scheme after them.
“You call yourself sons of the soil, but what have you done for them?” J asked.
The BJD leader also accused the Center of favoring Chhattisgarh on the issue of Mahndi water distribution and playing vote bank politics.
“The Center was against the formation of the Manhandi Tribunal and the Union Minister acted against the interest of the farmers of the region,” he alleged.,
He also criticized the BJP government for imposing GST on 'poor' kendu pickers.
Pandian said, “BJP had promised to take back the tax during the by-elections but failed to do so. However, the CM is returning the GST amount with a big package for them."
Pandian, a close aide of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, took names of some eminent personalities of the state and wondered what the BJP has done for them.
He addressed the 19th century poet 'Swabhav Kabi' Gangadhar Mehar as 'Santha Kabi' and the poet and social reformer 'Santha Kabi' Bhima Bhoi of the same era as 'Kabi', giving fuel to the BJP's 'Oriya identity' issue.
State BJP president Manmohan Samal said, "This is not a printing mistake...it is a cognizable offence..."
However, BJD's Sambalpur candidate and former minister Rohit Pujari said it was a "slip of the tongue".
Congress candidate from Sambalpur Durga Prasad Padhi also criticized Pandian for wrongly taking the names of those eminent personalities.“These BJD people have no respect for Odia poets. Even the Chief Minister is not able to name the big personalities properly.
Pandian was born in Tamil Nadu, studied in Delhi and started his career as a Punjab cadre IAS officer, but moved to the Odisha cadre after marrying an Odia. The BJP has been calling him an "outsider" in Odisha politics.
While attacking senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan, Pandian mentioned the names of many great personalities. The BJD leader asked him what he had done for these eminent persons despite being in the Union ministry for 10 years.
The BJD leader also raised questions on Pradhan's contribution to the development of Sambalpuri dialect and its culture.Pandian said, “Koshali language is the identity of Sambalpur. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote to the Center five times to include it in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Why did this not happen despite your party being in power for 10 years?”
Apart from this, Pandian also asked what the Union Minister has done to promote Sambalpuri saree in the last 10 years.
The Chief Minister has announced several packages for the weavers of the western region including Sambalpur.
“Despite being a cabinet minister, he could not set up a textile park here.The Chief Minister has established Kala Bhoomi, a museum dedicated to Odisha handlooms. He also built the Krishi Bhavan, which had a distinctive brick facade inspired by the Ika patterns of Sambalpuri sarees, Pandian said, and the building also won a Global Architecture Award.
The BJD leader also claimed that Patnaik has spent crores of rupees on memorials of many prominent personalities of the state and has also named a state scheme after them.
“You call yourself sons of the soil, but what have you done for them?” J asked.
The BJD leader also accused the Center of favoring Chhattisgarh on the issue of Mahndi water distribution and playing vote bank politics.
“The Center was against the formation of the Manhandi Tribunal and the Union Minister acted against the interest of the farmers of the region,” he alleged.,
He also criticized the BJP government for imposing GST on 'poor' kendu pickers.
Pandian said, “BJP had promised to take back the tax during the by-elections but failed to do so. However, the CM is returning the GST amount with a big package for them."
