The Hindu : Front Page : Senior BJD leader Panchanan Kanungo quits party

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Thursday, May 01, 2008
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Senior BJD leader Panchanan Kanungo quits party

Special Correspondent

Naveen Patnaik accused of acting in an undemocratic manner

Panchanan Kanungo

BHUBANESWAR: Senior Biju Janata Dal leader and former Minister of State for Finance Panchanan Kanungo on Wednesday quit the party raising the banner of revolt against the leadership of Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik.

At a press conference here, Mr. Kanungo accused Mr. Patnaik of running the BJD in an undemocratic fashion. “There was no internal democracy in the party.”

The party had also deviated from its objective of materialising Biju Patnaik’s dream of building a prosperous Orissa, Mr. Kanungo alleged.

“Instead of witnessing socio-economic growth, the State turned into the most backward one in the country during Naveen Patnaik’s rule.”

Criticising the government headed by Mr. Patnaik, the rebel leader said during its first term in office the government had not got enough time to concentrate on its promises as it was busy improving the financial position of the State and carrying out the super-cyclone reconstruction work.

But in its second term since 2004, the party had forgotten about its assurances to the people and concentrated on protecting the interests of the industrialists and the erstwhile royals.

Kandhamal riots

The party had also forgotten about stand against communalism. The party that had once taken exception to the Trishul Yatra, had not uttered a word on the recent communal riots in Kandhamal district, Mr. Kanungo observed.

Expressing concern over the ‘deteriorating law and order situation,’ Mr. Kanungo said police administration had ‘collapsed’ in the State. This was evident from the naxal attack in Nayagarh and Police Commissioner Binay Behera’s statement on the alleged officer-criminal nexus, he said.

The former Minister also criticised the Naveen Patnaik Government for not formulating a mining policy for the State. Although efforts had been made to formulate a mining policy for the State, the process was stopped under pressure from mine owners.

He criticised the BJD-BJP alliance government for its failure to formulate an agriculture policy for the State so far.

Mr. Kanungo said the BJD would face difficult times in the days to come as Mr. Patnaik had never reposed faith in any of his party colleagues while enjoying power by making ‘false promises’ to people.

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