The retired IAS officer made this scathing attack on the Odisha Government at a Press Meet he presided at the Congress Bhawan for the first time today.
“When voters, who make Government, go to the MLAs and Ministers, the latter say they have nothing in their hands. When the third floor (Chief Minister’s office) and the Lok Seva Bhawan are not open to journalists, what kind of democracy we have then,” wanted to know Patnaik.
He vociferously stated that there should be a change in the administration as the level it has reached is not pro-people. “Autocracy and corruption will have their tentacles multiplied if people are debarred from talking against the power (Government),” contended Patnaik.
He expressed unhappiness stating that Odia people are being neglected in the State. “Odia contractors are not getting works. I don’t see Odia people getting jobs. Odia people are going outside to work as bonded labourers,” he rued.
Patnaik said he has not seen the magnitude of torture being meted out to own people in other States as it is seen in Odisha now.
“We are now at one or two position from the bottom in different sectors. If we all work together, we can be able to find a place at one or two from the top,” he asserted.
Patnaik, who had served as Personal Secretary to the Chief Minister, said the yesteryear’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has changed a lot now. “There has been much different between yesteryear’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the Current Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik,” he remarked.
On the Chief Minister’s 5T concept, Patnaik said, “5T is a slogan only. When people are not allowed to enter the Lok Seva Bhawan, where is then transparency,” he asked. He argued that there is no need of 5T if MLAs and Secretaries work in true spirit.
Citing these reasons behind joining Congress, Patnaik said he would work as a dedicated worker of the party in the interest of the Odisha people.
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