BJP marks spot in transparent Naveen
Even as the cloud over dubious payments through an identical cheque number to two different persons of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) remains to be demystified in the Orissa High Court, the BJP has raked up the issue of funds to the tune of crores of rupees received by BJD though unknown sources. It has also alleged that the affidavits of CM Naveen Patnaik and the party do not match. The spokespersons of the BJD led by Rajya Sabha MP Pratap Deb have dismissed the allegations as baseless asking the BJP to apologise for the unsubstantiated allegation against the CM. The BJP has gone to the CEC challenging the statement of expenditure submitted through an affidavit by CM Patnaik. The commission has been asked to declare the election of Patnaik from Hinjili constituency 'null and void' as there are discrepancies in affidavits submitted by him and subsequently by the party. If proved, the CM will lose his membership from the legislative Assembly, besides a three-year ban to fight elections. BJP vice-president Sameer Mohanty has asked the Chief Minister to come clear of these allegations straight away, instead of asking his spokespersons to defend in the media creating a great deal of confusion even among his followers. Mohanty has dubbed Pratap Deb as the 'bodyguard' of the CM during the latter's visit to Delhi. MP Pinaki Misra has indirectly admitted the confusion in the affidavits. In similar cases, former Chief Ministers Ashok Chouhan and Madhu Koda had lost their memberships. The BJP is trying to catch Patnaik on the wrong foot. It has also approached the Enforcement Directorate to nab the source of the party funds.
Change of guard looks imminent in State Cong
The last scene of the Congress drama has been enacted in Delhi and a discussion between leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra and party's de-facto high command Rahul Gandhi, who is said to have listened to each other's views patiently for more than 45 minutes, is believed to be the penultimate round before the change of guard in the OPCC. Rejecting or side tracking the legislature party opinion will be suicidal; Mishra is believed to have said Rahul. He has also categorically stated about the unanimous choice of the legislature party reposing its confidence in Niranjan Patnaik as the OPCC chief. The Mishra faction and the other faction arguing in support of OPCC chief Prasad Harichandan are further subdivided. This has prompted Cong president Sonia Gandhi to set up a three-member committee to study the situation of the State and specifically, suggest as to who should be the next OPCC chief and continue till 2019 election. Some other names including the name of Bhakta Das were raised by Rahul who wanted Narasingha Mishra's opinion as he has to take the final call soon. In all probability, Niranjan Patnaik may get one more term to sail the drowning Congress ship as its captain. It will be interesting to see as to how the faction-ridden party gets its act together to fight the next general election.
VIMSAR Dir attacked for drive for transparency
Believed to be the fallout of his sting operation on two doctors followed by an incident which occurred in the casualty on Friday, VIMSAR Director Ashwini Pujahari has incurred the wrath of the hooligans who have attacked his residential house in Burla. One can easily vamp the cause of action against the Director. He has already lodged an FIR in the local police station against two doctors and 150 PG students and an investigation is on. It will not be difficult for the cops to nab the culprits and forward them to court for legal proceedings. The stone pelting incidents or the attack has left Dr Pujahari's family in a state of panic. The ghastly incident has to be nipped in the bud before it is flared up. Perhaps for the first time such an attack has been inflicted on the highest authority of the medical college by professionals of his own ilk. The Government should take serious cognizance of the fact that doctors of VIMSAR along with anti- social elements of the town can perpetrate the vandalism. The trend is even more dangerous as the issue of local versus a non local has raised an ugly head. The police must carry out raids and pounce upon those trying to escape from the long arms of law. Doctors must not play with the lives of the people in the garb of private practice and greed for money and those fuelling rancor and malice against the honest doctors like Pujahari must not go unpunished. The Director has received a moral boost from the public who took to the streets and gheroed the police station demanding action against the culprits.
Kalahandi temples' land grabbed illegally
The lands of as many as 15 temples of Kalahandi are under illegal occupation of the land grabbers. Most of these temples, which, of late have become an easy target, were constructed during the 19th century by the then kings of Kalahandi and managed by the royal family. The former king handed over these temples in the 70s to the Government along with 1,500 acres of land and valuables of the deities for the management and maintenance of the temples including performance of rituals. But a large chunk of valuable agricultural land of the deities located in different villages of Bhawanipatna and Dharmagarh sub-divisions remained under the unlawful occupation of the encroachers. These lands are used for construction of houses and for business purposes. The Sub-Collector who is the executive officer of these temples after taking over from the Tehsildar of Bhawanipatna two years back, initiated an eviction process with plans to renovate these structures, many of which are in dilapidated condition. Some of them are even abandoned as temples with no rituals whatsoever. Meanwhile, the administration has initiated as many as 665 encroachment cases and recovered 231 acres of agricultural land. But that is not enough. The abode of the gods must be made free from the clutches of the anti-socials who take shelter in the premises of the sanctum sanctorum with their family and set an unhealthy trend.
