**Bhubaneswar: ** As has been slated by the School & Mass Education Department that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik would hold his maiden interaction with the school students, teachers and parents across the State over video conference on the occasion of Children’s Day this year and the School & Mass Education having given selected topics for the school level competitions to mark the occasion, it has sparked off political controversy.
The political controversy surrounds over the topics for the debate competitions meant for the students from Standard VIII to X.
The topics are: “Odisha Excels In All Government Programmes At National Level”, “Odisha Government’s Various Pro-People Programmes & Schemes”, “Proud Odisha: Our Chief Minister Bagged Best Administrator Award” and “Successfully Hosting 22nd Asian Athletics Championship Is A Pride For Odisha”, etc.
Senior Congress leader and former minister Suresh Chandra Routray remarked, “Nowadays money can buy anything. Statesman had carried the information that Odisha’s position is 11th. Chief Minister has been adjudged by a paper as the Best Administrator. I’m unable to understand for what success he has been awarded? Here famers are dying. Also cases of murder, rape, robbery, theft, mining loot, Mahanadi water is now with that side (Chhattisgarh). Price of vegetables and essential commodities is skyrocketing. How could Naveen Babu become No 1?”
“He has made this arrangement simply to befool the innocent students,” the veteran politician stated.
Odisha BJP leader Bhrugu Baxipatra commented, “The way Naveen Babu’s Government has been spreading false propaganda, the same will also be told to the students as per their agenda made for the day. But, Biju Babu used go in a different manner so far his communication with the students were concerned for which the people till date remember him.”
“It’s unfortunate to note that he (Naveen Patnaik) is trying to do politics with the students in a bid to survive politically. BJP condemns such an agenda,” the BJP leader quipped.
On the contrary, BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb countered, “What was MODI Fest? How far is it justified to materialize party programme spending government funds?”
“Whatever you (BJP) do is justified while done by others is politics. Stop this double dealing,” the BJD spokesperson lampooned.
