Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday in a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sought a personal meeting with the latter at the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) to discuss various investment opportunities for the State.
Expressing his anguish on the CMO for not acknowledging his letters, Pradhan stated, “I have been writing to the State Government on various issues, including food processing and investment in Gulf countries, but the CMO does not respond to the letters. There are plenty of opportunities to export food items, processed food and seafood to the United Arab Emirates from Odisha.”
Pradhan also alleged that the CM did not allow Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi to meet him for a discussion on investments in Odisha. He urged that instead of pretending to be busy with party affairs, the CM should allow him a chance to meet and apprise him of investment opportunities for the State.
He also alleged that CMO officials used terms like Bihari, post peon and other derogatory words. But instead of personal dignity, Odisha’s progress for the upcoming generation is more important for him, he said.
“Instead of throwing my letter into the dustbin, give me an opportunity to meet you at your office as I want to apprise you of my efforts for participation of overseas investors in Make in Odisha conclave to be held this year,” Pradhan said.
In reaction to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s allegation that the Chief Minister is not giving time to him for holding discussion on issues relating to the State’s interest, the BJD on Tuesday said Pradhan has no such honest intention; rather, he is trying divert people’s attention by playing cheap politics.
“The Union Minister wrote a letter to the Chief Minister on June 18 and then told the media next day that the Chief Minister is not giving him time. His contention is totally false, and this way he is playing cheap politics, which is not acceptable.
He has many times attacked the Chief Minister through the media; and this time, he is also trying to attract people’s attention by making an allegation against the Chief Minister,” alleged BJD spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Pratap Keshari Deb.
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