By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Congress leader Bijay Kumar Patnaik on while refraining from making any direct attack on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, said, “He was my Boss. So, I don’t want to make any critical comment on him. However, I can say, this Naveen Patnaik is not the same one, under which I was serving.” Quoting Lord Acton’s one-liner, Patnaik said, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely,”.
On ex Minister Naba Das Murder case, Patnaik express doubts over accused ASI Gopal Das. The TV footage and other information clearly indicating, Das not the killer and some other behind it,’ he alleged. Can ASI alone killed a Minister, who was so powerful in ruling party, he added.
Speaking to media persons here, Patnaik said, “Odia people are exploited in our State. Perhaps Odisha is the only State where conspiracy was made to neglect its own people. Odia Contractors are not getting work here.” He said, even tenders for small works are also made in such a way, Odia contractors are not able to qualify it. If small and C class contractors from other States will get all the work here, where will the Odia people go? he asked.
Patnaik also alleged that Odia people are not getting employment in the big industries being set up in the State. Even, transport agencies from other States are being utilised in Odisha whereas the Odia people who own a truck, fail to get any work, he said.
The common man in the State does not know whom to approach to get their grievances redressed. Be it a MLA or Ministers, they claim that they do not have powers and everything is being controlled by the ‘third floor’,” he alleged.
