Bhubaneswar: Sambalpur MP and former Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said he would never allow Odisha’s pride and self-respect to be compromised, while accusing former chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik of attempting to tarnish his image through protests against him.Addressing a gathering at Rairakhol in Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency, which he represents, Pradhan referred to the “Dharmendra Pradhan Go Back” slogans raised by BJD supporters during his visit and questioned the campaign against him. “Naveen Babu says I should go back. Should I go back or come again?” Pradhan asked, alleging that the BJD chief had encouraged young party workers to stage protests to gain political mileage.Invoking Lord Jagannath and Maa Samaleswari, Pradhan said the blessings of the deities and the support of Odisha’s people had enabled him to serve as a Union minister for 12 years. “I have never allowed the heads of Odisha’s 4.5 crore people to bow in shame. As long as I live, I will not betray the trust reposed in me or do anything that hurts Odisha’s pride and self-respect,” he said.Pradhan was speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of a Kendriya Vidyalaya campus in Rairakhol. BJD MLA and deputy leader of opposition Prasanna Acharya, who was present on the dais, came in for a mention from the Union minister. “Prasanna bhai is here with us, while Naveen Babu is sponsoring ‘Go Back’ slogans,” Pradhan remarked.Hitting back, former BJD MLA and Sambalpur district BJD president Rohit Pujari said Pradhan was responsible for damaging his own image. “Why would Naveen Patnaik need to defame him? The Centre’s actions have done that,” Pujari said, referring to the handling of student protests in Delhi and alleging harassment of girl students and use of pellet guns against demonstrators.Pujari also claimed that Pradhan had to resign as Union education minister following protests over the alleged NEET question paper leak. Anticipating unrest during the visit, police detained around 30 BJD workers in Sambalpur before Pradhan’s programme.
