BJD spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Pratap Keshari Deb on Thursday pulled up Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for making a ‘false’ remark that the BJD had blamed the Prime Minister for not releasing the promo song of the Hockey World Cup with the Chief Minister.
“The BJD has not made any such remark. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan chose to use a social function to indulge in political bashing, forgetting the courtesy and social etiquette due to the late leader on whose memory the function was organised. This is extremely unfortunate,” said Deb.
Deb said the Prime Minister had mentioned in his Mann Ki Baat about the Hockey World Cup in
Odisha for which the Chief Minister called and thanked him (the PM) over phone for highlighting Odisha and the world cup.
Due to involvement of various stars and dignitaries and the fact that dates did not match, the anthem could not be released on proposed November 19.
“The BJD has never stated anything on this and it is unfortunate that the Union Minister has dragged the BJD into this (a controversy). Let's raise above party lines and make Odisha shine in the global stage by successfully hosting the world cup,” mentioned Deb.
On the issue of respecting Buxi Jagabandhu, Deb said the State Government has launched the largest water supply scheme, BASUDHA, with the name of Buxi Jagabandhu. He ridiculed that Pradhan, despite being a Union Minister, was yet to persuade the Railways to run a train named after Buxi Jagabandhu despite repeated requests made by the Chief Minister.
“We hope that Dharmendra Pradhan will refrain from stooping so low in politics and indulging in false accusation, especially in a memorial meeting held in remembrance of a leader like Mahtab,” said Deb.