Bhubaneswar: As Odia actor Pintu Nanda’s mortal remains were considned to flames at Swargadwar crematorium in Puri, his family members broke down while bidding a tearful adieu to the late artist.
While scores of relatives, friends, fans and admirers paid homage and had a last glimpse of the actor, his brother Abhiram vented his anger at the state government and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik saying Pintu could have been saved.
In a voice choked with emotion, Abhiram said that the state government spent crores of rupees on artistes from outside during the Hockey World Cup 2023 held in Odisha in January.
Stating that the state government could have saved his brother, he said though the government was aware of the fact that Pintu was undergoing treatment for a serious disease like cirrhosis of liver for over a month, no step was taken to save him.
Slamming the government for having failed to save the life of an artiste, a visibly shaken Abhiram said the Chief Minister should resign for not doing anything to save Pintu.
Stating that the information about Pintu’s illness must have reached the CM, he said expressing condolences after his demise is of no meaning now.
It may be noted that Pintu Nanda breathed his last while undergoing treatment for liver cirrhosis at a private hospital in Hyderabad on Wednesday night. His body was flown from Hyderabad to Bhubaneswar on Thursday night.
Abhiram’s remarks came a day after secretary of Odisha Cine Artistes’ Association Sritam Das drew the attention of chief minister to the demand of Ollywood artistes for a setting up a welfare fund with government support.
