Interview of Odisha BJP legislature party leader Basanta Panda

'BJD’s arrogance cannot be tolerated'

Basanta Panda

The BJP MLAs along with their Congress counterparts boycotted the State Assembly protesting the Government’s autocratic attitude in the House. The BJP got infuriated and walked out of the House subsequently when the Government moved to pass the Police Bill and the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill by ignoring the Opposition’s demand to hold discussion on the Bills. To know about details of the BJP’s stand on the issues, Hemanta Kumar Pradhan of The Pioneer spoke to BJP Legislature Party Leader Basanta Panda. 

How do you feel about the Government getting Bills passed in the Assembly in the absence of the Opposition?

The State Government has arbitrarily passed several Bills, including the Police Bill and the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill, without the presence of the Opposition. It is undemocratic and illegal. The Government is repressing the voice of the Opposition as the ruling party has a brute majority in the Assembly.

We had demanded before the Speaker for a detailed discussion in the House on the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill as the present form of the Bill would affect eight lakh poor families, which have been staying on Government land without a RoR for the last 60 to 100 years. We didn’t protest the Bill but demanded for an amendment to it keeping poor people’s interest in view. The Speaker didn’t allow it and the Government passed it. It proved that the Government is anti-poor.

Why did your MLAs stage walkout in the Assembly?

After the Opposition’s repeated demand, the Speaker had accepted the proposal of amendment to the Land Grabbing Bill. But on the very next day, the Speaker denied any amendment to the Bill. It was not only an undemocratic and unconstitutional decision but also a severe blow to poor people of Odisha. Later, the Government passed the Police Bill arbitrarily which hurt us. It was rare in the history of the Assembly. We couldn’t wait to see the killing of democracy anymore and preferred for a walkout.

Did you stage walkout and boycott Assembly as Congress did it?

No not at all. We had a meeting with our MLAs regarding the issue before the Assembly met on August 28. When the Speaker didn’t allow us for discussion, we came out of the House and staged a dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Assembly premises.

As people’s representatives your MLAs should take part in the Assembly proceedings to raise people’s issues, but you just quit the House. Don’t you feel sad about it?

See, the Government was not interested in any deliberation or discussion on popular issues fearing the Opposition would attack it on the issues like Prakash Mishra case, Brahma fiasco and Sarathi Baba scandal. With our support the House was able to run smoothly for three days. We wanted to run the House to raise issues relating to common people, but the Speaker deleted our proposals for discussions from his list. The Government is doing monopoly in the House as it has a huge majority.    

What’s your opinion about ruling BJD MLAs’ behavior in the Assembly?

The Government does not give respect to democracy and ruling party MLAs and Ministers are behaving like they are kings. Their arrogance would not last long as people cannot tolerate it.

What do you think about BJD MLAs’ alleged ‘Radhe Maa’ remark on legislator Radharani Panda?

We strongly condemn the remark. When she was raising people’s issues, a BJD MLA called her “Radhe Maa” which was disrespect for a woman. Some people don’t know how to behave with women in a dignified way. We can’t progress if we fail to respect women. We have lodged a written complaint with the Speaker to take necessary step in the matter.

You have complained that Speaker doesn’t pay heed to your demands. How do you think he will take strong step in this case?

It is a different case. This case is related to a woman, and we hope the Speaker will look into the matter in an impartial way and give justice to Radharani.

What steps will the BJP take to protest the Government’s moves in Assembly?

We will definitely go to people and make them understand about the Government’s double standard and dictatorship. We will sensitise people about the Government’s faults in the Prakash Mishra case, death of children in the Sishu Bhawan and other health issues, farmer issues and the Gajbhiye and Sarathi Baba scandals, police highhandedness in Kendrapada and Belbahali and the Nuapada youth murder by SOG jawans. We will start the campaigns very soon.  

The interview was published on September 3, 2015 in The Pioneer

The way Odisha Assembly held its Monsoon Session

'Undeclared Emergency imposed in and outside of Assembly'

Narasingha Mishra

Congress MLAs boycotted the State Assembly protesting the State Government’s dictatorial attitude in running the House without taking the Opposition into confidence. The party MLAs met Governor SC Jamir and questioned about the Speaker’s impartiality. To know about the Congress’ stand on the issue, Hemanta Kumar Pradhan of The Pioneer spoke to Leader of Opposition (Congress) Narasingha Mishra.

How do you view the State Government getting Bills passed in the Assembly in the absence of the Opposition?

Passing important Bills without any discussion or debate has exposed the dictatorial attitude of the Chief Minister. It is contrary to the democratic norms. Even the ruling party members didn’t think it proper to discuss. In the case of the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill, after a thorough discussion on a particular clause, that is 2(c), an amendment was unanimously accepted by the House. But surprisingly the next day, on the whims of an individual, which even was on record, the amendment was withdrawn. This is unprecedented and contrary to Rules of Law and the Constitution.

A Speaker is supposed to be impartial. He not only should be impartial, he should also appear to be impartial. In the last Assembly session, it was seen that the Speaker was dancing to the tune of the third floor of the Secretariat (the CM’s Office). 

               

Why did your MLAs stage walkout in the Assembly?

If what we say is not part of the record; if an amendment on legislation was withdrawn at last moment; if we are not allowed to have our say, what was left for us except walking out? Those who ask us why you walked out then tell us what we would have done.

Why did you want amendment in the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill?

We wanted the Bill’s amendment because the Bill would affect lakhs of poor families who don’t have land to stay and live in Government land during last 60-70 years. This law should not be applied to the landless people and to the homestead place people and to the poorest of the poor of the society.

Passing of the Bill proved that the Government is anti-poor, pro-rich, pro-corporate and pro-industrialist.  

As people’s representatives, shouldn’t your MLAs have taken part in the Assembly proceedings to raise people’s issues?

We participated. We were allowed to participate on some issues, but when what we talked went against the Government and exposed misdeeds of the Government, it was expunged by the Speaker. We participated in the Land Grabbing Bill and could persuade the House to amend it. But exercising extra-Constitutional methods the approval of the Assembly was ignored. 

I tried to discuss about different amendments, but I was not allowed to speak. Who says we didn’t participate? We did participate in the proceedings, but our observations, debates were removed from the proceedings of the House. The Chief Minister and the Speaker left no stone unturned in suppressing the voice of the Opposition by removing the proceedings of what we said and didn’t allow us to talk. We were only asked to hear filthy language that too against a woman member. So, where is democracy? One can say undeclared Emergency has been imposed both inside and outside of the Assembly.   

   

What’s your opinion about the ruling BJD MLAs’ behaviour in the Assembly?

The BJD and its leader Naveen Patnaik behave irrationally and in an irresponsible and undemocratic manner. The ruling party MLAs were creating disturbance by not participating in the debates. They were totally afraid of facing the Opposition and facing criticism.

How do you view BJD MLAs’ alleged remark ‘Radhe Maa’ on legislator Radharani Panda?

That was most unfortunate and undignified. MLAs of the ruling party instead of protesting were enjoying the language used against a woman member and most unfortunately the Speaker was not protecting the (targeted) member. 

What steps will Congress take protesting the Government’s move in Assembly?

We met the Governor on the issue, and he called the Speaker to discuss about the impasse in Assembly. We will go to the media and then we will go to people.

We will inform them about the State Government’s autocratic attitude in the Assembly and crushing the fate of the poor by passing draconian Bills.  

The interview was published on September 3, 2015 in The Pioneer

‘Police harassed me as my Rs 10-meal is better than Aahar’

Sanjay Das

He runs his small roadside eatery in the Capital city and serves meal at a highly subsidised Rs10. He came to limelight after being detained by police for serving the meal at the Capital Hospital when the State Government launched its much-hyped Rs5-meal under the Aahar scheme. Minutes after his van started serving his meal, the Government stall began wearing a deserted look. Though police said he was detained for selling meal at an unauthorised place, the cause behind the crackdown was very clear: It was perceived that he ran a parallel scheme with probably better quality and taste of food thereby threatening to foil the Government-sponsored Aahar.

Hemanta Kumar Pradhan from The Pioneer met Sanjay Das near his mobile van canteen in the city.

Why did you moot an idea about selling Rs10-meal?

I have seen the city since my childhood. There are several poor people coming from rural areas and those who are staying in the city do not get enough money to feed their family in a hotel due to want of money. Sometimes, some people get cheated by hotels as the hotels normally charge Rs40 for a meal by giving substandard rice, dal, khata and vegetable chips. I have been witnessing this from my young age as I’m involved with roadside hotel business since 1988. It prompted me to come up with my ‘Aama Ghara Healthy Food Packet’ on October 5, 2012. We sell a meal consisting of rice and dalma by packets in mobile vans at different points of the city including Baramunda, Indradhanu Market in Nayapalli, Fortune Tower, near Rajiv Bhawan, Kalpana Square and Bapuji Nagar. We sell the meal with other items also for which extra charges are levied. We also accept orders for delivery of food at doorsteps. Our meal for Rs10 is widely famous now.

Do you get any profit from the venture as the meal is highly subsidised?

See, we should not think about loss and profit always. Honestly speaking, I have never experienced loss in my venture, though the profit is not much. For example, I INVEST Rs9.5 for  the Rs10-meal and get Rs500 from 1,000 meals. I am happy that many less privileged people get benefit from my small initiative. Yes, the profit margin is a bit higher in the other items that I sell which are given depending on the choice of the customers.

When police asked you where you GET MONEY to run the Rs10-meal programme, what was your answer?

You know people nowadays tend to get very suspicious when you do something good even if your intent is really good. I explained police the way I operate. But they were in no mood to buy my story. A police officer manhandled me. But my question is when I had launched my venture in 2012, where were the police?

Please explain what had happened on the day police rounded you up?

My helpers were busy selling meals near the Aahar counter of the Government at the Capital Hospital when the incident happened. When the customers deserted the Government stall and showed interest in my meal, police rushed to my van and took my workers to the police station. After a few minutes, the police released my workers due to public pressure and, instead, took me with them to the police station. An ASI beat me there. Later, some activists came to my rescue. Police said some auto rickshaw drivers had lodged a complaint against me for selling the meal near their stand.

Now, consider this: If auto drivers had lodged complaint against me for selling the meal near their stand, why did the police let me off? I had no problem with auto drivers, but the PCR Van came and took me to the police station in a huff. I would have been happy if the Government had appreciated my effort but, instead, it grew vindictive. The police detained me for a vague reason and insulted me. If such things continue in the State, people who do business without caring much for a big profit will be harassed while those fleecing customers will get a shot in the arm.

BJP will come to power in 2019 in Odisha: Arun Singh

‘BJD to suffer from trust-deficit syndrome’

BJP’s Odisha Pravari and national membership campaign co in-charge Arun Singh spoke to Hemanta Kumar Pradhan of The Pioneer on party’s roadmap in the State.

Do you think BJP will come to power in 2019?

We are now busy in strengthening our party from grassroots level so that we can hit our target in a more organised way. We have more than three lakh members in the State and we target to achieve the magic number of 30 lakh to create our committed vote bank. If we get the magic number, we will be the number one party in the State.

Also, we are proceeding towards our goal in a planned way. Our party is focusing on the Panchayati Raj election to be held 2017 in order to show our strength before the general election of 2019. The BJP would take benefit out of the people’s anger against BJD’s misrule. Some BJD leaders were arrested and several others are under CBI scanner in the chit fund scam. Mining, land and house allotment scams have also left the ruling party red-faced. Due to all these scams, the BJD is going to suffer from trust-deficit syndrome in the State. Our party is going to be a political alternative in Odisha as the BJD and Congress are demoralised and frustrated respectively.

Do you feel Modi magic will work here?

If the BJP increased its seats from four to 47 in the Haryana Assembly

elections then why not in Odisha? We will increase our seats from 10 to 120 in the next Assembly polls. Modi magic will work surely. The Haryana model of campaign can be replicated in Odisha.

Once you had told to mediapersons that many leaders from other parties, including BJD and Congress, would join your party. Is it true?

Yes, it’s true. Some top leaders in the BJD have expressed their desire to come to our party fold. They are in touch with us. I’ll reveal the names of the leaders at an appropriate time. Just wait and watch what BJP is doing in near future.

How your party is prepared to continue membership drive in State? Do you think people will turn up according to your plan?

As 2015 is our organisational year, we will observe our party’s

Sangathan Parva this year to renew membership of existing basic or active members and will also add new members to our party fold. We will also restructure the party structure from the grassroots level like the layer of city in urban areas and block in rural areas. The membership drive will continue till March 31, 2015.

You know, youth inclination towards the party is tremendous. The youth love Modiji for his development agenda. We are number one party in the country and are going to be the number one party in the world very soon. I’m confident enough to get good response from the people of the State who are fed up with BJD’s autocratic rule. Our initial membership drive has received good reaction from the people. We will raise important issues of the people at the State and the Central levels and will hit the streets if needed. We will corner the State Government for the welfare of society.

According to the last election results, your party’s base is not strong in coastal area unlike western Odisha. How you can strengthen your base here?

In western Odisha, we are strong. Our vote percentage is high in the region. Still, we are trying to convert our vote share into seats.

We will raise several issues, including distress sale of paddy, farmer suicide, distress migration, jaundice in Sambalpur and starvation death in Nuapada and will promote other popular agitations against the State Government.

Yes, our performance in the last elections was not good in coastal region, but we are now strengthening our base in the area. We are focusing upon the grassroots level leaders to win the confidence of people. Our party is taking several steps to create genuine members to strengthen our party. Hope we will do better in the next elections.

It was a long perception that your party is suffering from ego-clash between senior leaders. How you address the internal issues?

No, not at all. Our senior leaders have already worked at different rallies and assignments unitedly without any ego clash. They are working for the welfare of the people of the State. The youth leaders are working under the guidance of seniors in the party. Our party is united and strong now.

It is seen that some political party workers are indulged in bad practices. Do you have any mechanism to train the workers?

Yes it’s happening, but our party is very conscious in the matter. It is very important to train the party workers because their bad behaviour may ruin the party image in the public. Our national leaders have planned to train 15 lakh workers after the membership drive. We are going to train one lakh members between June and August this year about party’s ideologies, party icons, history of organisation, NDA Government’s achievement and behavioural practices.

The interview was published in The Pioneer English daily on January 12, 2015

http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/bjd-to-suffer-from-trust-deficit-syndrome.html