The former Orissa Finance Minister, Panchanan Kanungo speaking with our correspondent in Bhubaneswar.
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The former Orissa Finance Minister and one of the founder members of Biju Janata Dal, who recently resigned protesting autocratic rule of Naveen Patnaik, made it clear that his struggle to make Orissa prosperous and affluent would continue till his last breath.
Kanungo said that Chief Minister Patnaik was leading an emperor's lavish life style while the common people in the state were living in abject poverty and lawlessness.
He also charged the CM with betrayal of the State's interests and alleged that Naveen's so-called industrialisation pursuit was an "eyewash" and "strategic move" to drain away the mineral resources of the State.
During an Exclusive Interview with odishatoday.com's Anurjay Dhal, at his Madhusudan Nagar residence in Bhubaneswar, Orissa, Kanungo disclosed many lacuna of the BJD-BJP Coalition Government led by Naveen Patnaik and declared a war to fight against the bad governance. Kanungo accused Patnaik of running the BJD in an undemocratic fashion. "There was no internal democracy in the party."
Here are the excerpts of the interview.
Odishatoday.com: Why do you quit BJD, despite being a founder member?
Kanungo: Since I realise, the Orissa Government led by Naveen Patnaik not working for the benefits of people of the State, I was exploring options to stop it, when I felt, time was ripe, I have to left the party and work separately, I did it.
During the course my interaction with people, civil society and intelligentsia, I found a huge ditch change between the general perception and the claim of the Orissa Government over development. I am in politics for the people of Orissa. When I had to struggle in BJD for good democracy, how I can fight for my people, so I quit the party.
Moreover, Chief Minister only bothers when he feels his seat is in danger, otherwise, he just prefers to enjoy the climax. I would say Naveen Patnaik has no moral rights to misguide people over development. The poor people in State could explain better about the Chief Minister and his style of functioning.
Odishatoday.com: In recent past many leaders have left BJD, and many ministers have landed in various controversies. what’s wrong in BJD?
Kanungo: Good and efficient leaders should not work under Naveen Patnaik. I feel, everything going wrong in BJD and all powers have been centralised at Naveen Niwas. I do not see a great future of BJD under the leadership of Naveen.
BJD leaders, who have managed to grab power would face difficult times in the days to come as Patnaik had never reposed faith in any of his party colleagues while enjoying power by making 'false promises' to people.
Odishatoday.com: Is Naveen Patnaik or BJD's internal democracy responsible for such situation?
Kanungo: I feel both are evenly responsible for this. There is no democracy in the party fold. The party has been one-man show of Naveen Patnaik. The political affairs committee of the party has not met even once in the last eight years. So it was wrong on part of me to continue friendship with those people, who have no idea on democratic practices.
The party had also deviated from its main objective of materialising Biju Patnaik's dream of building a prosperous Orissa. Even Naveen Patnaik failed to implement the first line of the party constitution.
I was one among the leaders, who had then masterminded the formation of BJD but situation has changed a lot since some inefficient, corrupted and biased leaders having strong support from Chief Minister, dominated all the affairs. I shocked the manner in which the party is running.
Odishatoday.com: People say there is a power balance between Naveen and Pyari. Have you ever feel this during your stint in BJD?
Kanungo: If I answer this question, I have to visit Mahabharat. I could say Naveen Patnaik as Duryadhan and Pyari Mohan Mohapatra as Sakuni. I even do not see Sakuni could be safe as well.
The Chief Minister Patnaik and people close to him are enjoying all powers and leading a lavish life style, while the common people in the state are living in abject poverty and lawlessness
Odishatoday.com: So, you are saying people in the state living in poverty and Govt is misguiding people over development. But Naveen often claims Orissa is on progress path. What does it mean?
Kanungo: Naveen knows Orissa has vast mineral reserves and in order to hand them over to private firms, he has gone for indiscriminate sign of memoranda of understanding.
BJD had promised to prepare a mining minerals policy but it did not materialise for some obvious reasons.
In order to ensure optimum utilisation of our mineral resources for the state's economic development, we pledged the people of Orissa to come out with a mineral policy. But, surprisingly, the state government is sitting over this proposal only with a motive of not to disturb the mines and mineral mafia.
Odishatoday.com: That means CM's statistics on development fabricated?
Kanungo: Definitely, such claims of Chief Minister do not reflect in reality as Orissa's loan burden would touch more than Rs 43,000 crores by the end of 2008. The figure was Rs 18,000 crores just four years back, when I served as Finance Minister of the State.
The people will feel this heat after 2010, when the State Government would go for interest payment. Similarly, tax growth is 11% while non-tax growth is 8%. Are such statistics speaks about the true picture of growth and development in the state?
Odishatoday.com: Naveen holds Home Portfolio but law and order seems to be deteriorated in last few months and alleged police-criminal nexus also comes to fore. What do you want to say about all these recent developments?
Kanungo: Police administration had 'collapsed' in the State. Maoists attack in Nayagarh and Police Commissioner Binay Behera's statement on the alleged officer-criminal nexus was evident for this.
Every day, outlawed CPI (Maoists) cadres killing people in under developed districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada and Gajapati. Chief Minister should step down from his post, when law and order situation had deteriorated badly making the general public feel unsafe in the State.
The Chief Minister, who holds the Home portfolio, cannot wash his hands off from the whole issue by ordering transfer of a few police officials. I wonder why the State Government requested Lok Pal to inquiry into the alleged police-criminal nexus instead of handing over to CBI.
Odishatoday.com: Now you have quit BJD. What would be your next move?
Kanungo: Till now, I have not decided.
Odishatoday.com: Ok, would you float a new party or look for existing one?
Kanungo: I may not float any party. But I would try to form a group, which would focus more development. I am in touch with several political parties; I will decide soon my future course of action. Certainly, I would fight till Naveen dethrone
Odishatoday.com: Many thanks for spending some of your valuable time with us and wish all the best for your future endeavors.
Kanungo: Many thanks to the team members of odishatoday.com. I hope this English news website would be the voice for the people of Orissa.
