Baijayant’s career on slippery slope
MP Baijayant Panda has at last snapped his ties with the BJD. Coming as it does during the mourning period of his father’s death, there is an element of foolhardiness in his resignation. This was destined to come anytime and therefore it was not surprising for many in the political circle. That, he was unwanted in the party, was a fait accompli, which was proved when none from BJD turned up to pay respect to the departed soul of his father though this legendary figure in Odisha’s industrial circle deserves a minimum courtesy, formal or informal what so ever. Alleged again to be a ‘third floor’ conspiracy, late Panda might have been denied that respect, but it was harsh enough for his son to call it quits. Panda’s departure from the party may have little impact in Kendrapada politics and has equally anything to do with pan Odisha politics, even if he joins BJP. Be that as it may, Panda is reduced from a position of political stability to a state of fluidity with his future uncertain.
Modi’s lacklustre Cuttack visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s lacklustre Odisha visit was on focus last week. His last visit to Bargarh was also unimpressive. In Bargarh he did not speak a word about farmers’ suicidal death and similarly in Cuttack he had no welfare package for the people to offer. It was only a countdown of the failure of the BJD Government; indirectly saying that vote for BJP can take this backward State on the path of progress. He didn’t speak much on the Mahanadi issue and unauthorised construction of barrages by the Chhatisgarh Government, but expressed his surprise that the lower Indra Project is progressing at a snail’s pace during the last 18 years. Modi paid respect to Odisha’s illustrated personalities, including Subash Chandra Bose, and spoke a few lines in Odia which hardly satisfied the hearts of those gathered in large numbers. Meeting tea vender Prakash Rao and his team and congratulating him for his hard work and persistence in educating the poor children out of his meagre income was no doubt a landmark incident. Speaking about ‘Bali’ connecting Odisha with ancient maritime trade subsequently during his visit to Indonesia is also praiseworthy but from the centre stage of Baliyatra ground, he could not win the hearts of nearly a 50,000 audience. The whole exercise looked like an election campaign of his party where he lashed out at the unholy alliance of opposition parties.
Jagannath Temple admn: All’s not well
People of Odisha have unflinching faith in lord Jagannath. This age old faith is gradually shattering due to uncivilised behavior of some employees working under regulation of the temple administration. They are the black ships, handful in number but can make or mar the sanctity of the sanctum sanctorum, enough to tarnish the image of Odisha in general and the temple administration in particular. That the temple administration has failed to bring the servitors on to a disciplined path of providing service to the devotees is a proven fact now. As Puri gears up to hold yet another Car festival next month, the discipline must be tightened enough among the servitors. Meanwhile, the unpardonable act of ‘missing key’ has surprised many. Normally the all-important keys of the ‘Bhandara Griha’, the main store of the temple where valuable jewelleries of the lords are kept, are deposited in the Government treasury. Surprisingly, the key is missing now. The question arises is whether the party which had gone for an inspection of the store recently had the key with themIJ Whether the temple administration will own up the responsibility of its failure is a million dollar question now. Equally interesting will be the steps to be taken by the Government to hold an inquiry and nab the culprit.
Hotel owners’ infighting on a high pitch
It all began with hotel Astha situated in a posh locality near Rourkela Railway Station. At one point of time, a series of raids were conducted in this hotel on complaints received from various corners of the city. The hotel owner was asked to conform to the norms required under the pollution control law. Besides maintaining foolproof fire safety devices and trained personnel to operate those in emergency, construction of the hotel in accordance with the approved plan of the Rourkela Development Authority (RDA), obtaining trade licence from the Rourkela Municipal Corporation and consent to operate certificate from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board were also some of the parameters. The hotel had undergone all sorts of scrutiny. A case was registered by RDA for deviation in the hotel building plan against which the hotel owner Santosh Kedia had brought a stay order from the Orissa High Court. Suspecting hands of his adjacent hotel owner ‘Abhinandan Inn’ who happens to be his cousin, Astha hotel owner Santosh is now on a rampage to settle score with him. He is adopting various tricks to corner him on allegations of mental torture, financial loss and other types of harassment. It is now clear that a family dispute is behind the entire episode. A quarrel between these two hotels has now become a matter of routine discussion on the street. Meanwhile, the Rourkela Hotel Owner’s Association has taken up the matter asking Kedia to explain his role in exposing the loopholes of his neighbouring hotel which is bound to have a cascading effect on other hotels operating in Rourkela. Kedia’s hotel was ransacked recently by some hooligans. Earlier, he received a threat call from some of his known adversaries. A member of the local hotel owners’ association, on condition of anonymity, said Kedia is getting wild day by day and his actions are likely to vitiate the social harmony and disturb law and order situation.