ERA OF POLITICAL KILLING COMMENCES IN ORISSA: OPPOSITION

Subhas Chandra Pattanayak

An era of political killing has commenced in Orissa under the BJD-BJP coalition government, alleged independent member Shambunath Nayak in the Orissa Legislative Assembly on 17 Feb.2006 criticizing Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for his refusal to arrest Rajat Kumar Rai, Officer-In-Charge of Charmal Police Station even though he is the kingpin behind the ghastly murder of Harekrushna Pradhan, leader of Congress Party and Chairman of Rairakhol Panchayat Samiti of Sambalpur.

In a written reply to an adjournment motion moved by Narasinga Mishra, MLA from Loisinga and others on the subject of this murder by the local police and the alarming Law and Order situation in the State, the CM told the house that on basis of the allegation of the son of the deceased and taking intensive public stir over the issue into account, “Sub-Inspector Rajat Kumar Rai, OIC, Charmal P.S., Constable Sheshadev Pradhan, Constable Gunanidhi Behera, Constable M.R.Podha and Constable S.K.Behera have been placed under suspension and inquiry has been ordered into the incident by Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Sambalpur”.

The CM told the House that a person from Charmal P.S. area was killed by a wild bear on 14 Feb.2006. “The bear was moving near the dead body and was attacking anyone approaching the dead body”. Even though “the local forest staff, OIC of Charmal P.S., Sarapanch of Bharatpur G.P. along with around 500 villagers reached the spot to retrieve the dead body and the forest staff exploded crackers to scare away the wild bear, it did not yield results. Rather another person was injured by the bear”, the CM informed. According to him, “on 15 Feb.06 at about 7.30 A.M., OIC of Charmal P.S. with his staff and APR force accompanied by Sri Hrushikesh Pradhan, Chairman, Rairakhol Panchayat Samiti and some other villagers had been to the spot in village Vatra to retrieve the dead body. The violent bear which was hiding behind a bush suddenly attacked them. Sri Hrushikesh Pradhan fell down and the bear pounced on him. In order to save the life of Sri Pradhan and deter the violent bear from further attacks, the APR force fired 8 rounds from a .303 rifle. The bear was killed and Sri Pradhan sustained injuries. While Sri Pradhan was shifted to Rairakhol Sub-Divisioal Hospital for treatment in a police vehicle, he expired and was received dead at the Hospital”.

The Opposition refused to accept this story. The behavior of the bear narrated by the CM never tallies with reality. Bears do not keep guard on the carcasses of their victims for days and do not dare mobs and crackers. The CM is trying to escape with concocted explanations, members alleged. Even treasury bench heavyweight Pradeep Maharathi expressed doubts. Asking the CM to enlighten the House on what pattern of behavior is peculiar to a bear while attacking, to see if that matches the instant case, Maharathi said, “We political leaders are like NMR workers. The real government is controlled by bureaucrats, who want us to believe whatever is their version”.

The MLA of Rairakhol Sanatan Bisi supported the official version even as his colleagues M/s Kalpataru Das, Raghunath Mohanty, Debi Mishra of ruling BJD and Bimbadhar Kuanra of BJP stood with the CM.

Sitakanta Mohapatra of Congress wondered how the police can save the people when its armed constabulary is unable to hit the target and kills a man instead, if the statement of the CM has any iota of credibility. Mahes Sahoo pointed out that Law and Order situation has so severely deteriorated that people won’t dare to have nuptial nights without invoking police protection, but the ability of the police as depicted in Rairakhol firing would pose as a deterrent!

Jayadev Jena of Congress termed the death of Pradhan as an instance of political killing and Arun De of OGP asked the Government to stop the drama of an enquiry by its own apparatus. He demanded an enquiry by the CBI sans any dilly dally.

Reacting to the CM’s clarification that police OIC Rai is not being protected inasmuch as a case has been registered under section 302 that provides for prosecution for murder, Dr. Nrusingh Sahu of Congress said, the Government has nothing to claim credit for that. Sec.302 has been invoked on the basis of the FIR filed by the son of the deceased leader, not by the initiative of the Prosecution wing.

Castigating the government for its attempts to hush up the crime, Deputy Leader of Opposition Nrusingh Mishra had set the tone of attack on Government by rejecting an enquiry by the RDC as not dependable. It is a crime committed through the Police. The Police has executed a conspiracy to kill Sri Pradhan. It had lifted him from his residence under the guise of visiting the spot where the wild bear had killed a man and somewhere on the way had committed the cold-blooded murder. Three bullets had pierced the body of the Congress leader, one on the temple, one on torso and the other on the buttock, but there was no trace of piercing in the shirt he had worn. It clearly indicates that Sri Pradhan was denuded of his dresses before being shot at, Mishra, who had visited the bereaved family immediately after the news had shaken up Bhubaneswar, said. The bear episode is being used as a ploy to hoodwink the public, he emphasized. Why the Police killed him and/or at whose behest the Police killed him must be found out and for this, RDC is not adequate. He has no experience or expertise in crime investigation. An enquiry by the CBI is the only way to deal with the matter, he had stressed. Even, ruling party member Sanatan Bisi had opined that the suspended Police officer should have been arrested before absconding.

But it had no impact on the CM. Nobody can be arrested before guilt is established, he said, sticking to his decision for an administrative enquiry by the RDC.

People have manifested their irk by burning down the Charmal Police Station and demonstrating their protests in the largest congregation of general public ever having expressed their collective condemnation of Government in the usually peaceful forest land: Rairakhol.

But watching the Government at Bhubaneswar one is inclined to feel that the people at the helm of affairs have no efficiency in reading the writings on the wall.

KALINGA NAGAR MASSACRE: CM FIDGETS IN THE HOUSE

Subhas Chandra Pattanayak

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took so many days. But he could not convince the Opposition that he is not guilty.

Trying to defend his Government in the Kalinga Nagar massacre matter, Patnaik told the House on 17 Feb.2006 in the evening that he has more than compensated the victims through posthumous financial aid at the rate of Rs.5 lakhs per deceased over and above offer of job to an heir of the bereaved family, Rs.50,000/- per wounded including treatment of one of them in the AIIMS, New Delhi at government cost, critical as was his condition. For wrongful post-mortem examination conducted on the bodies of the 12 gunshot tribals on 2nd Jan.2006, three doctors have been put under suspension and the matter of chopping off of breasts and penes of dead tribal females and males has been drafted to the State Human Rights Commission for needful action. The violence proper has been referred to a Judicial Enquiry Commission and action as per its finding would be taken. Besides this, the government is all set to frame up a rehabilitation policy, which, he claimed, would be the best in the country.

The Chief Minister’s reply provoked Deputy Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra, while wrapping up the debate he had initiated, to reprimand the Chief Minister severely for shying away from the charges he had made.

The Opposition had wanted you to tell: why there was so massive deployment of police force at Kalinga Nagar on 2nd January 2006? Why have you not answered this question? He asked the CM.

The Opposition had wanted to know if there was any information filed with the Police by the Tata concern expressing apprehension of any attack by the tribal community necessitating the deployment of armed police in so many packs. Why have you preferred to shy away from this question? He asked the CM.

The Tata establishment has in the mean time clarified that none of its officials was present on the spot on the day of the massacre. The government is not showing if there was any FIR filed by the Tatas. It is clear therefore that it is the State government that had masterminded the massacre on Dec.28, 05 under direction of the CM in the meeting he had taken in his chamber, as earlier alleged, after intelligence report reached him about the rising discontentment amongst the tribal habitants, which the CM has failed to refute, Mishra said.

The question was specific: why school-going children and women taking their bath were gunned down? Why have you not answered that? Tribals going away from Tata’s wall building location were shot at from behind. You were asked to tell the House: who ordered this firing? Why have you not answered that? The Collector as well as the S.P. had talked through their respective mobile phones before and after the massacre. The Opposition had wanted to know as to with whom they had held their conversation. Why have you kept mum on this? There was no apprehension of any assault from the Tatas. There was no FIR from anybody of Tata establishment indicating any apprehension from any tribal to justify so heavy deployment of armed police. Therefore the Opposition had wanted to know as to who had ordered for this deployment. Why have you not told the House of it? Admittedly three doctors have been suspended for wrongful post-mortem. The Opposition had wanted the details of the wrong committed by the said doctors and the post-mortem report. Why have you not laced them in the House? Mishra grilled the CM.

Instead of answering the question raised by Opposition, the CM has tried to escape under the canopy of judicial enquiry. The House must not be allowed to be hoodwinked like this, Mishra warned.

When the Deputy Leader of Opposition was dwelling on such pertinent points, the Chief Minister ventured some comments as the Speaker allowed. Mishra took strong exception to this blatant transgression on the decorum of debates. The Speaker forthwith expressed regrets and clarified that he erred under confusion and allowed Mishra to continue. But the Chief Minister did not relent. He continued uttering incomprehensible words despite vociferous protests from the Opposition members, some of whom even rushed into the well in disgust.

We shall not hear this transgressor of democratic decorum and as long as he has not owned up responsibility for the Kalinga Nagar massacre, we will not participate in any discussion whenever he is on his leg, declared the Deputy Leader of Opposition.

But why Naveen was in a state of fidgetiness?

SPEAKER APOLOGIZED, MEMBERS TOO: ASSEMBLY RESUMES

Subhas Chandra Pattanayak

After the entire day passed away in protracted labor to deliver a solution to the stalemate whipped up by harsh rulings and rash reaction of the Speaker, Orissa Assembly resumed its business at 5 P.M., at the summit of continuous adjournments promulgated by the Deputy Speaker from time to time, six times, on 16 February 2006, to take to records the regrets of Speaker Mahaswar Mohanty as well as two members of the Congress Party, Tara Prasad Bahinipati and Anup Sai, who assured the House that there should be no repetition of such agonizing manners in future.

Leader of Opposition lunched the House to normalcy by leaving the issue of the coins worth Rs.60, 000.00 deposited on the table before the Speaker in compliance of his ruling imposing cash penalty on three Congress Legislators, to the democratic conscience of the Speaker. He wanted the Speaker to help the House to resume as there are so many important issues to be taken up in interest of the people. Arun De of Orissa Gana Parishad expressed profound agony over the continuous stalemate. The Law and Order situation has so alarmingly declined and the relationship between the Government and its employees has so agonizingly deteriorated that it would be shameful on part of the Assembly to remain a mute witness. The House should be run with all seriousness and therefore the speaker should ster the House out of the stalemate, he said.

The Speaker, who had been refusing to accept the coins, instructed Assembly Secretariat to collect the coins from there and kept the House again adjourned for 15 minutes to facilitate the collection.

The House resumed.

ORISSA ASSEMBLY ABORTS BUSINESS: SPEAKER BLAMED FOR INTIMIDATION

Subhas Chandra Pattanayak

Speaker Maheswar Mohanty clarifies that he has not told to beat up any member of the Opposition. He has only said that the people will beat them up. He admitted that he used the word “Pitibe” meaning the people will beat them up. Tara Pr. Bahinipati, Congress MLA declares that the Speaker told him, “Pitibi. Ethi pitibi, bahare bi pitibi”, meaning “I will beat you up. I will beat you up here as well as outside”. Bahinipati was heard saying, “Pitiba? Chala keunthi pitiba”. (“You shall beat me? Ok. Let me see”.

Unprecedented is this acrimony in legislative annals of Orissa. But leadership of the State has fallen in such hands. The house has aborted its business for the day today, Feb. 15, 2006, when the State was awaiting the Chief Minister’s version on Kalinga Nagar Massacre.

Alleging that the threat to beat up is an act of criminal intimidation resorted to by the Speaker against participating members of the Opposition in whom the Government sees disadvantage, the Opposition raised vociferous protests and railed against the Speaker. Congress legislator, Anup Sai climbed up to the table of the Speaker even as Bahinipati threw away the microphone to the floor from there.

Leader of Opposition J.B.Patnaik has expressed deep shock over deterioration of decency and democratic impartiality expected of the Speaker of the House. A sitting chairman of Redhakhol Panchayat Samiti, Harekrushna Pradhan, belonging to Congress was shot dead by the Police in the early morning, a local branch of nationalized Panjab National Bank was plundered by armed rubbers at the beginning of business in the morning (later it transpired that a sum of Rs. 22.84 lakhs was looted), continuing unrest amongst teachers and employees over and above congregation of displaced people from Kalinga Nagar in the Capital city without any remedy or redress of their grievances were too clamant matters to be ignored and hence the Opposition demand for immediate stock-taking of these matters was absolutely in conformity with responsibility of the Opposition and was proper and justified. To intimidate members who were putting premium on this responsibility was not only bad but also unbecoming of a Speaker, Sri Patnaik said.

Looks like anarchy has taken over the Assembly.

OPPOSITION WALKS OUT AS RESOURCE-LEASHED BUDGET SEEKS ASSEMBLY SUPPORT

Subhas Chandra Pattanayak

The Opposition in Orissa Assembly walked out on 14 February 2006 as Finance Minister Prafulla Ghadei started highlighting his budget for the Financial Year 2006-07, which, even though styled as a balanced budget, is leashed to resources.

“The thrust of our budget is on growth, development, efficiency, social equity”, Ghadei declared.

It is stale, insipid and lackadaisical; and with such a budget the State cannot expect any development, alleged the Opposition before walking out.

In his budget speech, Ghadei relied upon the Orissa Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBM Act,2005) to pivot expenditures on corresponding resources. “Unless there is substantial increase in collection of State’s own tax and non-tax revenue, it would not be possible to provide fund on the required scale for different developmental work and Social Security Programmes by incurring loan”, he said.

Stressing “on outcome rather the outlays, whether it is plan or non-plan”, Ghadei said, “Finance Department or State government alone cannot bring improvement in the systems. For this, the representatives of the people, leaders of all political parties, Government servants and intellectuals should debate and consult and all should work together”.

This is where the evasiveness in official approach to the most serious fiscal programme of the State stands bare, the Opposition exposed. Emphasis on ‘quality of implementation, efficiency and accountability of the delivery mechanism’, which Sri Ghadei has imported from the budget speech of Union Finance Minister, is too specific to countenance his extravagant attempt to shift responsibility from the government’s shoulders.

However, in absence of Opposition, Ghadei spelt out his fiscal strategy. Stressing on “fiscal consolidation and efficient fiscal management as per recommendations of 12th Finance commission”, he said that the budget is addressed to “reducing debt burden, interest payment and un-productive revenue expenditure’ while aiming at “enhancing State’s tax and non-tax revenue” to keep up release of more funds for implementation of different development works.

Notwithstanding emphasis on enhancement of tax and non-tax revenue, the Rs.19,553.58 crore budget is fashioned to be tax-free. Claimed to be balanced budget, it carries a revenue deficit of Rs.474.80 crores when the fiscal deficit is estimated to be 3812.10 crores. But the primary deficit stands at Rs.10.12 crores.

The Consolidated Fund comprises State’s own tax:25.55%, own non-tax:6.89%, Shared tax:26.73%, Grants-in-aid from Centre:18.57%, recovery of loans and advances:1.39% and loan from different sources:20.87% out of which debt servicing would take 19.44%, repayment of loans:10.92%, disbursement of loan (non-plan):0.40%; other non-plan expenditure:48.23% and investment in plan sector:21.01%.

But in the plan sector, expenditure in departments linked directly to peoples’ source of livelihood, does not look quite assuring. As for example, Agriculture has a plan ceiling at Rs.48.08 crores when the ceiling in respect of Textile & Handloom is fixed at Rs.12.40 crores, and Fishery & Animal Resources Development at Rs16.70 crores. Even the only department on which eligible job-seekers depend for employment and workers in organized as well as unorganized sectors depend for job-security and eradication of unfair labour practice by the employers, the Labour& Employment Department, has been clamped with a plan ceiling of only Rs. 16 lakhs!

However, Sri Ghadei has dedicated this budget to Lord Jagannath!

“Lord Jagannath is watching all our actions and activities and I hope that He will definitely help and bless us to march forward in the right direction”, he has concluded.

What then the Assembly shall do?

Oriya Language created Orissa and therefore Orissa must be ruled by Oriya Language

Subhas Chandra Pattanayak

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seems to have developed a wrong notion that governance of Orissa in Oriya depends upon his mercy. His press-note of December 17 and full page display advertisement in major broadsheets of today force us to arrive at this apprehension.

In his December 17 press note it was declared that he had held a meeting with the five members of the ministerial committee on that day for the purpose of “strictly implementing the Orissa Official Language Act, 1954 in official and non-official level” to facilitate which a website has been floated by the government. In the full page multi-color advertisement in broadsheet dailies today, this is intriguingly missing.

The advertisement is designed to tell the people that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has taken historical steps to save and develop Oriya language, and has enumerated the steps he has taken. This is blatant lie. Neither he nor his government has executed any single item claimed to be “historical” in the official advertisement. The entire advertisement is nothing but false propaganda. What a shame it is, that, the people of Orissa are taken for granted by their Chief Minister! Read more →

Navakalevara: Legends and reality

Subhas Chandra Pattanayak

Legends are the most misguiding mischief aimed at superimposing lies on reality so that indigenous people of an occupied land are kept too dazzled to see the dark face of the rulers and the class of exploiters can keep its victims subjugated to its authority, while forcing them to forget the heroic history of evolution of their own philosophy of life, their own splendid spiritual realizations, their own socio-economic uniqueness, their own ancient culture, their own valorous past, their own way of social integration and their own civilization.

We see this mischief galore in the context of Navakalevara of SriJagannatha.

So, here, we are to rip apart the legends and bring the reality of the Navakalevara to light, as thereby alone we can reach the lost uniqueness of the people of Orissa.

We will use Puri Sankaracharya’s self-proclaimed authority over Navakalevara to proceed with our purpose.

  Read more →

Samaja in Maze of Forgery: Two former Ministers of Orissa – Lingaraj Mishra & Radhanath Rath forged the WILL of Gopabandhu; Both benefitted till their death; SoPS continues to Loot

Subhas Chandra Pattanayak

The Oriya daily SAMAJA founded by late Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das, to which, out of their love and reverence for the great humanitarian leader, the people of Orissa had and have been giving their financial and moral support, is in a menacing maze of forgery and loot.

Sadly, two of Gopabandhu’s trusted men – Lingaraj Mishra and Radhanath Rath – who, because of being known so, had the opportunity of becoming cabinet ministers in Orissa, were the masterminds and/or makers of the forgery from which the paper is yet to be salvaged.

Both of them – Lingaraj and Radhanath – had partnered with each other in forging the last WILL of Gopabandhu to grab the Samaja, which being Gopabandhu’s paper was of superb credibility and the greatest political instrument of the day. They had performed this crime behind the screen of and in nexus with Servants of the People Society (SoPS), of which, while breathing his last, Gopabandhu was the Vice-President. Read more →