Rule Of Bureaucrats In Odisha, Govt Working Against Constitution, Says BJP

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha unit of BJP has announced to send a copy of Indian Constitution to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to apprise him of violation of Constitution by the state government.

Speaking at a presser in the party office in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, BJP’s state spokesman Anil Biswal claimed that the government is being run contrary to provisions of the Constitution.

“Instead of ministers, the bureaucrats are running the government in Odisha. This goes against the spirit of the Constitution. In order to remind the chief minister of the provisions of the Constitution in state administration, we will send a copy of it to him,” said Biswal.

The BJP leader said secretary (5T) to the chief minister VK Pandian has been touring different parts of the state. Besides reviewing various public welfare schemes and development projects, he has been holding public meetings and hearing people’s grievances.

“Though Pandian has been claiming that he is doing this on direction of the chief minister, a reply from chief minister’s office to a query under RTI Act has stated that the secretary has neither been issued direction nor authorised to conduct review meeting or hold public hearing,” he said.

“Now the question arises who is telling the truth? Is the secretary acting in violation of his power or the chief minister is remaining silent deliberately to protect him?” the BJP leader asked.

Stating that the chief minister must explain his stand on the issue, Biswal said the BJP would send a copy of the Constitution to him to remind of his constitutional obligations.