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Naveen Patnaik to avoid RSS chief on Orissa visit

M I Khan in Bhubaneswar

Orissa Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal chief, Naveen Patnaik, has left many red faces in the Bharatiya Janata Party by making himself "unavailable" for a public function in Jagatsinghpur district to be presided over by the Rashtriya Sawayamsevak chief K S Sudarshan later this month.

The BJP - a political off-shoot of the RSS - shares power with the BJD in the state.

Sudarshan, who is visiting the state for the first time after taking charge as the RSS chief, will distribute assistance to a group of cyclone victims on behalf of the RSS-affiliated Utkal Bipanna Sahayata Samiti on May 27.

Patnaik, who likes to wear his secular credentials on his sleeves, dithered for a long time after receiving the RSS invite early this month. Though the CM himself or his office have not issued any statements as yet, there are ample indications that he may not meet Sudarshan at all during his four-day stay in the state.

Patnaik is likely to use Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's one-day visit to the state on May 24 as an excuse to remain busy. Sudarshan too is arriving in the state the same day.

Sources told rediff.com there was immense pressure on the BJD chief from BJP hardliners, both in Bhubaneswar and Delhi, to welcome the RSS chief on his arrival in the state capital.

"Some people are still trying to persuade Patnaik to attend the Jagatsinghpur function. But as far as I know he has made up his mind," said an aide at his residence.

The chief minister may even go out of the state on an official engagement immediately after the prime minister leaves for Delhi, it was learnt.

On May 27 he has a meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission K C Pant.

A senior BJD leader said sharing power with the BJP at the Centre and in the state was one thing, sharing a common platform with the RSS quite another.

The BJD and the RSS have confronted each other on more than one occasion after the coalition government came to power in the state.

In fact, the Patnaik government is seriously considering imposing a ban on Dara Sena, a militant outfit floated by supporters of Dara Singh, main accused in the killing of Australian missionary and his children.

"If Patnaik were to share a platform with the RSS chief, it would encourage Sangh Parivar to treat Patnaik as Sangh-friendly," a BJD leader said.

Patnaik was not available for his comment, though repeated attempts were made to contact him at his residence and office.

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