New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The growing resentment over “extraordinary influence” wielded by an IAS officer over the Odisha government and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) came to the fore again with Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab seemingly drawing parallels between treacherous zamindars of earlier times and the current powers that be.
Speaking at a function to mark a new book, ‘Fakirmohan Senapati: The Making of an Author’, in New Delhi, the BJD MP dwelled upon treachery and betrayal, themes highlighted by Senapati in his legendary works. “It is the people you consider your own often stab you in the back. Rogue landlords exploited people in the past and the trend continues till date. Fakirmohan has written about atrocities of Gumasta (officer assigned to keep records) during those period. The situation is no different today. The characters in his novels and stories come alive in real life,” he said.
“Do Mangarajs not exist in the current era?” Bhartruhari asked, while referring to a famous character in Senapati’s classic novel Chha Mana Atha Gunta (Six Acres And A Third) in which the protagonist Ramachandra Mangaraj, a cunning person, though born as a poor orphan, unscrupulously becomes a zamindar (landlord) and money lender and exploits peasants and villagers. Eventually, another sly person snatches away the zamindari from him.
However, it was not clear whom the parliamentarian was referring to in his address. As is his wont, Mahatab without naming anyone apparently took a swipe at those calling the shots like he has done in the past through his editorials, public speeches or bytes to the media.
Union Education Minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan, who once hailed Mahatab as Bhishma Pitamah of Odisha politics, was present on the occasion. Recently, Dharmendra at a public function targeted the alleged control of a bureaucrat over the state government and said Gumasta cannot distribute public money. “Does government funds belong to his father?”
Also Read: [Watch] Dharmendra Fires ‘Kaurava Sena’ Salvo At BJD, Hails Bhartruhari Mahatab As ‘Bhishma Pitamah’
This came a few days after senior BJD leader Soumya Ranjan Patnaik added fuel to the row triggered by BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi’s allegation of a bureaucrat hijacking entire governance in Odisha. In his editorial column, the Khandapada MLA made an oblique attack on the Chief Minister, seeking a clarification on the allegations made against the administration.
Meanwhile, Opposition BJP and Congress have been going all out in their attack against 5T secretary’s whirlwind tour of Odisha and announcement of packages.
Also Read: Odisha Congress Questions Authenticity Of Audio Clip Played By 5T Secy In Bargarh
