Bhubaneswar: The political battle between Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has taken an interesting turn with the latter responding to an old letter and putting the ball back in the Union Minister’s court.
In April 2017, Dharmendra Pradhan had written a letter to CM Patnaik, requesting him to make the canteen at Odisha Bhawan/Odisha Niwas public to Odia community as well as people from other States living in NCR so that Odia food and cuisine is properly promoted.
Naveen replied today saying he appreciate Dharmendra’s concerns and understands the logic, but asked the P&NG Minister to restore the land originally allotted to Odisha Bhawan, but later leased out to a petrol pump, which did not make any sense.
Naveen urged Dharmendra to make concrete efforts to restore the land so that it can add capacity to Odisha Bhawan and help the State establish an Integrated Culture Centre.
“I have already sent a letter to Union Urban Development Ministry to allot us the Land to set up an Integrated Odia Culture and Education Centre in Delhi, which could act as a hub to showcase the rich culture, heritage, handicrafts, handlooms, food and festivals of Odisha in Delhi-NCR area. But, they are yet to respond. So, I request you to prevail upon the Urban Development Ministry to get a piece of land or try to restore back the land adjoining Odisha Bhavan, which is being used by a petrol pump now”, Naveen wrote.
Ms Kalinga