A lady with a winsome personality, she is witty, breathing an air of robust optimism. Armed with brilliant repartees and convincing logic, she can swiftly take the wind out of others’ sails using it to reap a rich bonanza for her out of it.
Aparajita, which literally means the unconquerable, has proved the same in her real life. She was selected to the IAS cadre in her first innings and was elected to the 17th Lok sabha in her maiden political endeavour.
Her transition from an ivory tower bureaucrat to a mass leader has been completed, latest being made a national spokesperson of the party. The recent sealing of Aparajita Sarangi’s office by the BMC and police has stirred a hornet’s nest. As we proceeded to her residence at Pokhariput, we came across BJP workers preparing their plans to sit on the road along with their leader Sarangi as they have no roof to transact their daily schedules of programmes.
While Odisha Minister of State for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra hurls the charge of flouting the Covid guidelines against Sarangi, the latter retorts terming it as vindictive politics of the BJD.
In an interview to The Pioneer, Sarangi told Sugyan Choudhury that she would strain her every nerve for the welfare of the people of her constituency without caring a fig for the shenanigans of the BJD.
Allegations of Covid norms violations have been repeatedly levelled against you. Is it deliberately made by you or is it casual in nature?
People of Odisha are very intelligent. You can see a pattern in the allegations made against me. On 2nd July 2020 at 2 pm, I was releasing my first Annual Report Card. There was a lot of adoration from all quarters from public domains appreciating my efforts in this regard.
At that particular moment, an FIR was lodged against me. Similarly, I had been to Hanspal to oversee a project of a flyover of Rs 24 crore as the people were very keen on it. You can see the footage. All along I was wearing a mask. My colleague and supporters were all very conscious of following the Covid norms.
Police were on the scene. If anything had gone wrong, it was the duty of police to keep the people away from me or from anyone they liked. Instead, fine was imposed upon me; and they made me to pay fine twice.
These are all motivated designs to malign me. Similarly, when I was returning home from Delhi after a gap of 24 days, there was a huge crowd waiting at the airport. You can see the footage and must see me wearing a mask all the while, starting from the airport to the Lingaraj Temple and from there to the Jagannath Temple at Puri.
All along, we have tried to adhere to the three norms set by our beloved PM and my leader Modiji like “Do Gaj ki Doori”, “Wearing Mask,” and “Ensuring social distancing in Congregations”.
I am so educated; I care so much for my health and for the health of my community and the people. There has not at all been any attempt consciously or unconsciously by us to flout the same. The allegations are nothing but political vindictiveness. The people can read through the definite pattern.
The grapevine is agog with the comment that Madam Sarangi violates the Covid norms to remain in public discussion. What’s your response to it?
What a question! What a question! I work for 14 hours a day and I move for four to five hours in my constituency. I spend 95% of time for the people of my constituency and the rest in Delhi when the Parliament is in session.
I am away from my family and stay in Bhubaneswar only to work for my people. Under the circumstances, if I work hard for the people, if I meet hundreds of people a day, is it wrong? Development is the other name of politics for me.
I am indulging in quality politics, politics of humility and politics of public policy and nowhere you can find me to be vindictive against anybody. I will continue to work for the people of Odisha and do it to the best of my ability. If by doing so, it hurts someone or makes someone uncomfortable, then I am not to be blamed.
What’s your reaction after they have sealed your office?
I was a Government servant. I abide by rules and laws. I would have been extremely happy if they had first sealed the BJD office and then they would have come to me. I would have been rather happily singing the greatness of the Chief Minister and about his impartial administration. Why are there double standards in one State? Odisha people are very simple, but they are extremely intelligent.
They known what is what, even in this particular case they know everything. I wish if wisdom had dawned upon the administration! Unfortunately, the Chief Minister is not in the grip of things.
The centre of power lies elsewhere. Probably he (centre of power) has less of experience and does not know how to run the administration. This smacks of immaturity!
What’s your next course of action after this incident?
The wheel of progress shall move on. I shall put more inputs into my work and I shall be working 14 hours a day. Nothing can prevent me. The developmental works shall continue undisturbed. I shall hold my office on roadside as I have no roof over head under the Bhubaneswar sky.
I will request my people to wear mask, maintain social distancing and follow all Covid guidelines. But I will intimate the district administration to ensure the same since it is their duty to ensure the guidelines. I have to listen to the grievances of the people sitting on the roadside.
If they have used the politics of mask against you, how are you going to unmask them?
I shall do nothing in this regard. The people shall unmask them. However I shall continue to work with redoubled energy, enthusiasm, vigour and vitality.
Some sections people think you are the BJP’s alternative to popular CM Naveen Patnaik. How do you take it?
That is the kindness of the people of Odisha. I say Oh Lord, one step is enough for me; I don’t want to see the distance. I know only how to work and I am not concerned about the future. It is all left to the power, providence and protection of Lord Jagannath!