BJP questions Naveen Patnaik on skipping Niti meet

Bhubaneswar: The Congress and BJP on Sunday questioned Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s “motive” behind skipping the fourth meeting of the governing council of Niti Aayog in New Delhi. Senior BJP leader and Union petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, “It is unfortunate that the Odisha CM did not attend the meet. Niti Aayog is a big platform where the states put forth their views and grievances. CM has deprived the state of presenting its demands.”

Another veteran BJP leader and Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram also came down upon the CM heavily for giving a miss to the Niti Aayog meet.

“Naveen has taken oath to act in accordance with the Constitution of India. By skipping the Niti Aayog meet, he has ignored to discharge his constitutional responsibilities,” said Mr Oram.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik said the state lost a golden opportunity to air its grievances in a bigger platform like Niti Aayog.

“When Chief Ministers of other non-BJP ruled attended the Niti Aayog meeting, what prevented the Odisha CM join the deliberations? It appears that CM Naveen Patnaik is more concerned about party politics than looking after the interests of the people,” said the OPCC chief.

On the other hand, BJD leader and Odisha finance minister Sashibhusan Behera said “The meeting was earlier slated for June 16 but was later rescheduled for June 17. Chief Minister attending or not attending is a prerogative and not mandatory.”

BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said, “Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has sent his viewpoints to Niti Aayog in a written format. Hence, there is no point in saying that the CM skipped the meeting.”