Featured

Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Innate Passion For Odisha!

By
Manoj Mishra

Bhubaneswar: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who left for his heavenly abode on August 16, 2018, had an innate passion for Odisha.

After the Super Cyclone on October 29, 1999, which devastated coastal Odisha, the former Prime Minister had rushed to the state to assess the dimension of the calamity and announced Rs 250-crore central assistance for the relief, rescue and rehabilitation of the affected families.

Apart from this, his contribution to the development of Odisha was immense. He had laid the foundation stone of the oil refinery of the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) at Paradip on May 25, 2000. Later, on July 15, 2002, he had laid the foundation stone of the AIIMS at Sijua in Bhubaneswar modelled on that in New Delhi.

Vajpayee was also instrumental in the operationalisation of the East Coast Railway (ECoR) on April 1, 2003.<

The former Prime Minister, while in the Opposition, had proposed special assistance for the KBK (Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput), one of the most backward and underdevelopment regions in the country, in Parliament.

Being very close to the former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik, Vajpayee had visited Odisha to have a last glimpse of the departed soul after his demise. It is said that Vajpayee had played the role of an advisor during the formation of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) after the death of Biju Patnaik. Besides, he was also responsible for the induction of the BJD in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

During his tenure as Prime Minister, Vajpayee had given the Steel and Mines portfolio to Naveen Patnaik in his cabinet. He was among the top leaders who shaped his political career.

“He was a great leader and it was always a very good experience to have worked under him,” Naveen had said following his demise.

Senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharya said, “During the formation of the BJD, both Atal ji and Advani ji had given us the mental courage. Whenever Naveen Babu had sought advice, Atal ji was used to give him constructive advice.”

To strengthen the party base of the BJP, Vajpayee had visited Odisha a number of times. In 1981, he had visited Rourkela to review the organizational activity of the party.

After forming the government at the Centre in 1999, Vajpayee, for the first time, had created the Tribal Affairs ministry and entrusted the portfolio to Jual Oram.

“For the tribals, Dalits, backward communities, poor and downtrodden, he was like a God. While giving me the portfolio, he had inspired me to work with diligence and without any fear,” Oram said.

“His ideals were so inspiring that it had given me the strength to discharge my duty with full vigour,” said Debendra Pradhan, another Odisha leader, who was also a Union minister in the Vajpayee’s cabinet.”

Apart from Naveen Patnaik, Jual Oram and Debendra Pradhan, Vajpayee had also inducted Arjun Sethi, Braja Kishore Tripathy and Dilip Ray as Union Ministers in his cabinet.

Senior Congress leader and president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Niranjan Patnaik said he had met Vajpayee when in the Opposition.

“He was a man of very impressive personality. I like his speech. What I have felt that despite being in the BJP, Vajpayee was a secular leader,” he pointed out.

Manoj Mishra

Recent Posts

Odisha CM Directs To Supply 3 Months’ PDS Rice To Beneficiaries In Advance

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister on Tuesday issued direction to provide rice of three months' quota…

November 5, 2024

[Watch] Salman Khan Shoots For ‘Sikander’ In Falaknuma Palace Amid Tight Security

Mumbai: In the wake of a fresh death threat by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, actor…

November 5, 2024

Bachchan Family Upset With Nimrat Kaur, To Take Action Against Source Of Rumour

Mumbai: Rumours about Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai’s divorce have been doing the rounds for…

November 5, 2024

Surge In Patients With Respiratory Issues In Delhi Hospitals

New Delhi: Hospitals across Delhi are witnessing a spike in the number of patients with…

November 5, 2024

ISKCON Cancels ‘Untimely’ Rath Yatra In Houston

Bhubaneswar: Facing a strong opposition from the devotees of Lord Jagannath and Puri Gajapati Maharaja…

November 5, 2024

[Watch] Is Abhishek Bachchan’s ‘I Want To Talk’ Similar To Dad Amitabh’s ‘Piku’?

Mumbai: The trailer of the highly-anticipated Abhishek Bachchan starrer ‘I Want to Talk’ was unveiled…

November 5, 2024

One Killed, Two Injured In Mukhyamantri Bus-Bike Collision In Odisha’s Ganjam

Berhampur: One person was killed and two others were injured in a collision between a…

November 5, 2024

Raveena Tandon’s Daughter To Debut With Ajay Devgn’s Nephew

Mumbai: Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon’s beautiful daughter Rasha Thadani is all set to make her…

November 5, 2024