‘I dislike Odisha government’s ad hoc approach in everything’

Bureaucrat-turned-Bhubaneswar MP and BJP national spokesperson Aparajita Sarangi speaks to Ashok Pradhan on a range of issues including national politics to problems in the state capital. Excerpts:
As an MP, what difference do you think you have made?
I have been doing my job as a parliamentarian with all honesty, giving 100% effort. Not a day has passed that I did not work 12-15 hours. In Lok Sabha, I have raised problems of people such as drainage, women’s issues, poverty status of Odisha, the need for rapid industrialization and heritage development. Whenever I am in Bhubaneswar, I spend six hours a day at the grievance cell in my office. I get response from people from all over the state. My office is community driven with an eye and ear to people’s problems 24×7. I spend a lot of time with party workers not only in my own constituency, but the whole of Odisha.
What kind of grievances do people come with?
Varied. From the right kind of beneficiaries not chosen to complaints of corruption at the ground level, infrastructure gaps, bad roads, lighting and drainage problems. Some come with family issues as well. We get many people approaching us with medical issues such as not getting a bed in hospital or being unable to arrange funds for treatment.
To what extent do you think you have fulfilled your poll promises?
I am extremely satisfied with the progress. Development is our main agenda as Prime Minister Narendra Modi keeps saying. Roads and drains being big issues in Bhubaneswar, we are focusing on improving these.
Bhubaneswar drains are killing people…
There is long pending need for a drain from Nayapalli through 120 Battalion. For many years, the state was unable to get a no objection certificate (NOC) from the Union ministry of defence. We pursued this with defence minister Rajnath Singh. The state has got the clearance. Another major drain work is being undertaken near Pahala area. But it is high time the state government prepares a comprehensive drainage development plan for Bhubaneswar. The state can make some budgetary provisions and ask for more funds from the Centre. Without that, the problem will not end. What I dislike about the state government is its ad hoc approach, seen everywhere.
What do you mean by ad hoc approach?
For drainage, the government is not showing the kind of seriousness it should. In the last six years, we have lost seven lives after people fell into drains in Bhubaneswar. This is inexcusable. I have written to the CM about it. I have appealed for a comprehensive drainage development plan. It has not been done.
Why has BJP failed to halt Naveen Patnaik’s victory run?
I would ascribe the BJD poll wins to deftly managed image of the CM and giving out doles before polls. It’s a ‘Chhata-Juta sarkar’ (government distributing umbrella and shoes). Here is a chief minister who is not accessible. He is owned only by one person. A leader should be accessible to all.
What should be the counter strategy?
A very strong BJP. We need a government with the vision of Prime Minister Modi. We need a government which walks the talk and not just offers poll doles.
Why BJP is seeking resignation of Dibya Shankar Mishra but not removing Ajay Mishra at the Centre?
Ajay Mishra’s son is behind bars. There was nothing to suggest Ajay’s role in what happened in Lakhimpur Kheri in UP. In the Kalahandi teacher’s murder case, Dibya Shankar’s role is under scanner. There is evidence against Dibya Shankar himself. It is not a question about his son. The situations are different.
BJP’s recent bypoll results have not been good…
We have done extremely well in Assam and Madhya Pradesh. We won Huzurabad seat in Telangana, proving that the party is making inroads into newer areas. But we always self-introspect. Our senior leaders will certainly analyse what went wrong in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.
On Priyanka Gandhi’s efforts to revive Congress in UP?
Priyanka had campaigned in 2019 also. She canvassed for her brother Rahul Gandhi. The result: Rahul lost Amethi and had to rush to Wayanad. Again she is back in UP. I am sure, her mother would lose Raebareli in the next LS polls.
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