Baijayant Panda Reacts on Naveen Patnaik's Allegations, Says 'I’m Disappointed'
BJP vice president Baijayant Panda replied back at Naveen Patnaik's comments and said that he is disappointed that Patnaik has reduced himself to this state of making wild unsubstantiated and personal allegations.
Bhubaneswar, April 21: Hours after Biju Janata Dal president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stating that Baijayant Panda wanted to be chairman of Parliamentary Finance Committee, the latter replied back he is disappointed that Patnaik has reduced himself to this state of making wild unsubstantiated and personal allegations.
Expressing his disappointment, Panda said, "I’m disappointed that Naveen has reduced himself to this state of making wild unsubstantiated and personal allegations." Adding more, Panda said that in last 18 years in BJD government, he had never coveted any post. Naveen Patnaik Opens Up On Poll Alliance, Says 'BJD Ready For Post Poll Alliance With Any Political Party Who Works For Odisha'.
Claiming that he has always prayed for Patnaik's health, Panda said, "I've never spoken about Naveen’s health. I've always prayed to Lord Jagannath to give him good health & long life and good sense to understand that. These conspiracy theories that the coterie have planted on him are ridiculous."
Adding more, he had said, "For 18 years, he didn't find anything dubious in me. For 90 years, the relationship between my grandfather and his, very close relationship between my father and his father. The fact that the late Biju uncle constantly supported and encouraged our family’s businesses which have created 10,000 jobs in Orissa. None of these allegations came up till last year."
Earlier, Patnaik while speaking to ANI, had made allegations on Panda of trying to become the chairman of Parliamentary Finance Committee. He had said, "He (Baijayant Panda) wanted to be chairman of Parliamentary Finance Committee. Our party didn't have sufficient numbers so he thought he'd get the support of BJP. I didn’t support him due to the financial dealings of his company."
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 21, 2019 09:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).