Shradha Accompanied Me To Vatican City As Physiotherapist, Says Naveen Patnaik

Bhubaneswar: Under Opposition BJP’s attack over a woman named Shradha accompanying him during his visit to the Vatican City last year, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday clarified that she was his physiotherapist.

In a short statement in the state Assembly, the Chief Minister said, “Shradha is my physiotherapist. My sister late Gita Mehta had sent her for my physical fitness.”

Naveen further said that no government quarters has been allocated to Shradha. Besides, the state government has paid no amount towards her travel expenses, he added.

The BJP had sought to know about Shradha after her pictures and videos accompanying the CM during the foreign trip started doing the rounds on social media.

Last week, BJP MP Basanta Panda said Naveen should clarify on Shradha’s inclusion in his trip to the Vatican City. “When the Leader of Opposition (LoP) enquired about Shradha in the House on September 26, it upset the members of Biju Janata Dal (BJD),” he said.

“The CM need to answer why she accompanied him, the purpose behind her inclusion in the tour and who paid for her tickets. He should either come clean on this or relinquish his post,” the BJP leader had said.

Also Read: BJP Asks Odisha CM To Come Clean On Woman Who ‘Accompanied Him To Vatican City

On Tuesday, BJP’s Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi too raised the issue in X and sought clarification from the CM.