New Delhi:

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged a “sudden deterioration” in Naveen Patnaik’s health condition, the Odisha Chief Minister today said he is “very well” and hopes to “continue to serve the people of my state”.

The Biju Janata Dal chief, the second longest-serving chief minister of the country, was speaking to news agency ANI ahead of the final phase of polling in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. The state polls in Odisha are being held alongside the general election.

A series of social media videos purportedly showing Mr Patnaik in a frail condition had prompted the BJP to question his health. In a rally at Odisha’s Balasore, the Prime Minister hinted at a “conspiracy” behind the “sudden deterioration” in the 77-year-old Chief Minister’s health. “Is the lobby that is currently running the Patnaik government on his behalf responsible for it?” the Prime Minister said, adding that if the BJP comes to power in the eastern state, it will form a panel to probe this matter.

Soon after, Mr Patnaik responded, “Let me assure the PM that I am in perfect health and I have been campaigning in the state for the last month. He has stated publicly earlier that I am his good friend. All he had to do was pick up the telephone and ask me about my health. But a number of BJP people from Odisha and Delhi are spreading rumours about my health.”

#WATCH | On PM Narendra Modi, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik says, “I have done that (dialling PM Modi) often. The Prime Minister has said in recent public meetings that I am a good friend of his. So, if he heard these rumours and was concerned about it, was it not his duty to pick up… pic.twitter.com/OfMIERNYcC

— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2024

Asked about his remark in which he said that the Prime Minister could have just picked up the phone and checked on him, Mr Patnaik told ANI, “The PM has said in public meetings that I am a good friend of his. So wasn’t it his duty, if he heard these rumours and was concerned, to have just picked up the telephone and asked me about them?”

Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared a video of Mr Patnaik in which his hand appears to be shaking. Also seen in the video is VK Pandian, Mr Patnaik’s long-term aide and a former IAS officer who has now joined BJD. The BJP has repeatedly targeted Mr Pandian, alleging that he is controlling the state government.

“This is a deeply distressing video. Shri VK Pandian ji is even controlling the hand movements of Shri Naveen Babu. I shudder to imagine the level of control a retired ex bureaucrat from Tamil Nadu is currently exercising over the future of Odisha!” Mr Sarma posted on X. Mr Patnaik responded, “I believe the BJP which is known to make non-issues into issues, are discussing my hands. This will certainly not work.”

#WATCH | On allegations by the opposition and former BJD leaders that “VK Pandian takes decisions on behalf of CM Patnaik”, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik says, “…This is ridiculous and I have said it often before, this is an old allegation and it holds no weight.” pic.twitter.com/FTNZSoEqOe

— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2024

During the interview with ANI, Mr Patnaik was asked about allegations that Mr Pandian is his “gatekeeper” and takes decisions on the Chief Minister’s behalf. “That is ridiculous and I have said this often before. It’s an old allegation and it holds no weight,” the veteran leader replied.

Odisha is among the BJP’s key focus areas in this election, and party leaders have said they are confident of a good show in both the general election and state polls. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said their Odisha target is to win 17 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state and 75 out of 147 Assembly seats. The BJD won 12 seats in the state in 2019, while the BJP bagged right. In fact, the two parties were expected to tie-up ahead of the polls, but the talks fell through.

Bhubaneswar:

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s close aide and senior BJD leader VK Pandian on Tuesday claimed the opposition BJP has “committed nine self goals” during the ongoing Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly polls thus boosting the regional party’s electoral prospect.

Mr Pandian claimed that the BJP’s self-goals will help the BJD and none can stop the regional party from forming the government for the sixth consecutive time.

Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are being held simultaneously in Odisha.

He also claimed that the BJD has so far by the end of the third phase of Assembly polls, already secured majority to form government in the state and the next and final phase of voting will be held in BJD’s stronghold areas.

Speaking on the nine self-goals of the BJP, Mr Pandian claimed that the number one “mistake” in the series was to drag Lord Jagannath’s name to the political discourse and also using “abusive language” against Odisha’s most popular and five-time chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

“The people of Odisha do not appreciate these words against a respected person like Mr Patnaik,” he said.

On the second self-goal, Mr Pandian said they have said in the manifesto to “close down” the Mission Shakti if BJP comes to power. They have all along conspired against Mission Shakti which has about 70 lakh women membership. This possible action of BJP has created a “panicky situation” among the women.

He said if the BJP comes to power, it will “stop” the benefits of the Biju Swaasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) for the people of Odisha by implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme. While the Ayushman Bharat scheme is only for the BPL people, the BSKY covers about 90 per cent of the state’s population.

“This is the third self-goal and the people of Odisha will teach BJP a lesson in the elections,” Mr Pandian said.

The bureaucrat-turned-politician said the BJD government has introduced school, college, university and technical education institutions transformation. The BJP will “close down” all such activities if it comes to power. This apart, the BJP will also “stop” giving scholarships to the students, Mr Pandian claimed.

On the fifth self-goal, Mr Pandian said the tribals “fear” that the BJP will “stop” the BJD’s Special Development Councils (SDCs) which work to protect and promote the tribal language and culture. No BJP rules state has such facilities for the tribals as provided by the Patnaik government in Odisha, he claimed.

This apart, Mr Pandian said that the people are apprehensive that the state’s communal harmony will be disturbed if the BJP comes to power. In “Double Engine Sarkar” states, there is illegal extortion collection and small businessmen are the victims, he alleged. The people apprehend that such culture will also come to Odisha if BJP forms government in the state, he said.

Regarding MSP on paddy, Mr Pandian said that the BJP has now announced to give Rs 3,100 as MSP per quintal of paddy. The people are now asking why it was not earlier while the central government is the authority to decide the rate of MSP.

He said the BJP got a shock after the Patnaik government announced free electricity to about 90 per cent of the households. They have now coined free power versus solar power.

The BJP’s solar power scheme will meet the fate of the Ujjawala scheme where the women had to pay heavy price after getting a cylinder or two free of cost, he said.

On the BJP’s ninth self-goal, Mr Pandian said it is BJP’s ‘Subhadra Yojana’ under which the saffron party announced to give Rs 50,000 to each women.

“If each woman in Odisha gets Rs 50,000, the total amount required will be Rs 1 lakh core. This is another ‘jumla’ of BJP after the false assurance of Rs 15 lakh to each family,”Mr Pandian said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

As the Lok Sabha elections enter its final phase, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is confident of his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), returning to power at the Centre and forming a government in Odisha, where assembly elections are being held simultaneously.

In an interview with the news agency ANI, the Prime Minister spoke about the decision of the BJP to not ally with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) led by Naveen Patnaik despite sharing a good relationship with the Odisha Chief Minister. PM Modi said that he was willing to sacrifice his relationship for the welfare of Odisha.

On being asked about his relations with Mr Patnaik, PM Modi told ANI that in politics, relations between leaders should be good.

“We have good relations with the leaders of all the political parties of India and in a democracy we do not have enmity. Now the question is whether I should maintain my relations or worry about the fate of Odisha. I chose to devote myself to the bright future of Odisha and if I have to sacrifice my relations for that, I will sacrifice them and after the elections, I will convince everyone that I have no enmity with anyone,” he said.

The Prime Minister also emphasized that after the elections, he will convince everyone that he harbours no enmity with anyone.

Targeting the Naveen Patnaik-led BJP government in Odisha, PM Modi said that a group has taken over the entire Odisha system.

Mr Patnaik, who has been in power as the chief minister since 2000, is seeking a record sixth term in simultaneous state elections.

“There has been no progress in Odisha for the past 25 years. The biggest concern is that a toli (group) has taken over the entire Odisha system. It seems the whole system has been taken hostage. It is very natural that if Odisha comes out of it, then it will flourish,” PM Modi added.

“It is a question of the authenticity of Odisha. Odisha has so many natural resources. It is sad to see the poor people of such a prosperous state. Odisha is in the prosperous states of India. It is such a natural property but it is also in the list of states with many poor people. The government is responsible for this. That is why the people of Odisha should get their rights. Odisha should get its identity,” he added.

PM Modi further emphasised that on June 10, a BJP Chief Minister will take oath in Odisha.

“Odisha’s fate is about to change. The government is changing. I have said that the expiry date of the current government of Odisha is June 4. And on June 10, BJP’s Chief Minister will take oath in Odisha,” the Prime Minister said.

Responding to a question about his party’s performance in West Bengal in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi said that the eastern state will be the best performing one in the whole of India.

“In Bengal elections, TMC party is fighting for existence. You must have seen it in the last assembly elections, we had three seats. The people of Bengal took us from three to 80. We got a lot of support in the Lok Sabha in the last elections. This time, in the whole of India, the best-performing state will be West Bengal. The Bharatiya Janata Party will get the most success there,” he said.

In 2019, BJP made strong inroads into TMC’s hold in West Bengal, by winning 18 seats and being a close second to TMC, which won 22 seats.

The Prime Minister also mentioned that the elections in West Bengal are one-sided with the public supporting the BJP, which is creating panic in the Trinamool Congress government.

“There are constant murders and attacks. The BJP workers are being locked in jails before the elections. Despite all these atrocities, the public is coming out in large numbers to vote,” PM Modi added.

Prime Minister Modi said that his one-point agenda if elected again would be to ensure that the country achieves the goal of Viksit Bharat.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

BJP leader Sambit Patra found himself in the eye of a political storm following an unfortunate slip of the tongue. During an interaction with media after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow in Odisha’s Puri yesterday, Mr Patra suggested that Lord Jagannath, the revered deity of the ancient town, is a devotee of PM Modi. This gaffe has ignited a fierce backlash from political rivals, especially from Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

The incident occurred in the sweltering heat and chaos following PM Modi’s roadshow. Mr Patra in his clarifications has said that he had aimed to highlight PM Modi’s devotion to Lord Jagannath but mistakenly stated, “Jagannath is Modi’s bhakt.” The comment, captured on camera, immediately stirred controversy, drawing ire from multiple quarters. The political fallout as a result of Mr Patra’s remarks has prompted the BJP leader to undertake a period of “upvaas” (fasting) in atonement.

READ | Sambit Patra’s “Slip Of Tongue” That Found A New ‘Bhakt’ For PM Modi

“Today, a statement made by me had created a controversy. After PM Narendra Modi’s roadshow in Puri, I gave byte to many media channels and everywhere I said the same thing, that PM Narendra Modi is an ardent devotee of Mahaprabhu Jagannath… In the end, when another channel took my byte, it was extremely hot, crowded and noisy. Unknowingly, while giving the byte, I said the opposite, that Mahaprabhu is a devotee of PM Narendra Modi. This can never be true, and a person in his senses can never say such things that god is a devotee of a human. I have made this mistake unintentionally. I know some people must have been hurt but even god forgives mistakes made unintentionally… I need to seek forgiveness from Mahaprabhu Jagannath for this slip of the tongue and I have decided to do a ‘upvaas’,” Mr Patra said.

आज महाप्रभु श्री जगन्नाथ जी को लेकर मुझसे जो भूल हुई है, उस विषय को लेकर मेरा अंतर्मन अत्यंत पीड़ित है।

मैं महाप्रभु श्री जगन्नाथ जी के चरणों में शीश झुकाकर क्षमा याचना करता हूँ। अपने इस भूल सुधार और पश्चाताप के लिए अगले 3 दिन मैं उपवास पर रहूँगा।

जय जगन्नाथ।

ଆଜି ଶ୍ରୀ… pic.twitter.com/rKavOxMjIq

— Sambit Patra (Modi Ka Parivar) (@sambitswaraj) May 20, 2024

The reaction from Naveen Patnaik was swift and sharp. The Odisha Chief Minister condemned Mr Patra’s statement in a scathing social media post, saying that such remarks insult the sanctity of ‘Mahaprabhu’ Jagannath and hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees. He urged the BJP to refrain from dragging the deity into political discourse, a sentiment echoed by other opposition leaders.

“Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha is the Lord of the Universe. Calling Mahaprabhu a bhakt of another human being is an insult to the Lord. This has hurt the sentiments and demeaned the faith of crores of Jagannatha bhaktas and Odias across the world,” Mr Patnaik wrote.

Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha is the Lord of Universe.

Calling Mahaprabhu a bhakt of another human being is an insult to the Lord. This has hurt the sentiments and demeaned the faith of crores of Jagannatha bhaktas and Odias across the world.

The Lord is the greatest Symbol of…

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) May 20, 2024

The controversy quickly gained momentum, with leaders from various parties joining the chorus of condemnation. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the BJP’s perceived arrogance, suggesting that such statements indicate a dangerous level of self-aggrandisement within the party. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal echoed these sentiments, calling Mr Patra’s statement a height of arrogance and an “insult to God”.

The Congress, BJD, and AAP capitalised on the uproar, with the Congress demanding an apology from Prime Minister Modi himself. “Sambit Patra, who is immersed in Modi Bhakti, should not have committed this sin. Narendra Modi should apologise for this disgusting statement,” stated the Congress’s official communication.

Amid the escalating backlash, Mr Patra took to social media to clarify his statement. He explained that it was an inadvertent slip of the tongue, a mistake made under the strain of the moment. “I gave a number of bytes today to multiple media channels…by mistake during one of the bytes I pronounced just the opposite. I know you too know and understand this. Sir, let’s not make an issue out of a nonexistent issue. We all have a slip of the tongue sometimes,” Mr Patra wrote directly to Chief Minister Patnaik, seeking to defuse the situation.

Despite Mr Patra’s apology, opposition parties remained unyielding. The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) lodged a formal complaint, alleging that Mr Patra’s statement was a deliberate attempt to insult religious sentiments. They accused him of violating the model code of conduct and called for strict action.

This controversy unfolds as Odisha heads into a crucial phase of the elections, with Patra’s gaffe potentially influencing voter sentiment. The BJP, which is striving to make significant inroads in the state, now faces the challenge of mitigating the fallout from this incident.

 

Bhubaneswar:

Senior BJD leader VK Pandian on Saturday challenged the BJP to declare its CM candidate for Odisha and claimed that the party would get less than 10 per cent votes if it names any of its current state leaders.

Campaigning in the Sundergarh Lok Sabha seat, Mr Pandian said BJP has been “day-dreaming” about forming government in Odisha since 2014.

“When elections come many leaders come as election tourists, and then they are not seen for five years,” he said.

“It’s a very old habit of BJP leaders of Odisha to daydream about forming government as Naveen Patnaik has said. They have been daydreaming since 2014,” he added.

Mr Pandian claimed the BJP was unable to declare its CM candidate because it knows the day it will announce, its vote share will go below 10 per cent.

“PM Modi is claiming that the BJP chief minister will take oath on June 10. The people of Odisha have the right to know who is the BJP’s CM candidate. Let the people decide between Naveen Patnaik and the BJP candidate. The BJP is afraid to declare its CM candidate because they know that if they choose any one of the current leaders, they will get less than 10 per cent votes,” he said.

“I challenge the BJP to declare its CM candidate,” he added.

In an indirect reference to Mr Pandian’s earlier assertion that he is the natural successor to all great values of CM Patnaik, PM Modi told an election rally, “I am here to invite you to the swearing-in ceremony of the BJP chief minister in Bhubaneswar on June 10. A son or daughter of the soil who understands the state’s culture, language and tradition will be made the CM.” 

Mr Pandian said the BJP is claiming that it will make Odisha the top state in the country, “but is Gujarat the number one state?” “Malnutrition among children in Gujarat is 40 per cent. Anaemia among children in Gujarat is 79 per cent. Per capita debt burden of Gujarat is close to Rs 60,000,” he claimed.

Claiming that CM Patnaik never forgets his promises, Mr Pandian said that the BJD manifesto will be converted into a policy document after the elections.

Odisha will vote for its 21 Lok Sabha seats and the 147-member assembly, simultaneously, in four phases, starting on May 13.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a public meeting in Odisha’s Kandhamal, issued a bold challenge to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. PM Modi urged Mr Patnaik to name all the districts of Odisha without the aid of written notes. This challenge, as PM Modi framed it, was a litmus test of Naveen Patnaik’s intimate knowledge of the state he governs.

“I want to challenge ‘Naveen Babu’ as he has been the CM for such a long, ask ‘Naveen Babu’ to name the districts of Odisha and their respective capitals without seeing them on paper. If the CM cannot name the districts of the state, will he know your pain?” the Prime Minister said.

Highlighting what he perceived as a lack of trust by the state government in the people’s capabilities, PM Modi emphasized the need for transparency and empowerment. He criticized the incumbent administration, suggesting that such mistrust was stifling Odisha’s development potential.

PM Modi spoke about the state’s vast potential for tourism and its significance in the economic landscape. Drawing parallels to historic events like the Pokhran nuclear test, PM Modi underscored India’s capabilities and the need to harness them for progress.

Further addressing the crowd, PM Modi promised to uplift the living conditions of the people, drawing from his own humble beginnings. He rallied for support, portraying the upcoming elections as a pivotal moment for Odisha’s trajectory.

“Odisha offers me immense love and support. I will repay every ounce of your trust by selflessly serving the country. 26 years ago, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji conducted the Pokhran test today. The nuclear test filled Indians all over the world with pride. That was the first time India made the world aware of its capabilities. Whereas, Congress keeps threatening its own people. They create fear psychosis in the minds of Indians by reiterating, ‘Pakistan is a nuclear power’,” he said.

Odisha will hold Assembly elections and Lok Sabha elections in four phases from May 13 to June 1, with vote counting scheduled for June 4.

In the 2019 Assembly election, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) won 112 out of 146 seats, while Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) won 23 seats and Congress won 9.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJD won the majority of seats in the state, while the BJP and the Congress brought up the rear. The BJD won 12 seats, the BJP finished a close second at 8, and the Congress bagged just a lone seat.

Bhubaneswar:

The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday unveiled its manifesto for the simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls to make Odisha the No. 1 state in the country by 2036.

Releasing the regional party’s manifesto, BJD president Naveen Patnaik announced the introduction of Kalingashree and Kalinga Bhushan awards annually, akin to Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards, to celebrate Odisha’s rich culture and heritage.

“This manifesto will be accepted by the state cabinet in its first meeting after the new BJD government is installed after elections,” Mr Patnaik said.

He expressed confidence that the manifesto, once implemented through the 5T governance model, would transform Odisha into a modern, identity-based state of growth and pride.

“Youth empowerment is a key aspect of the manifesto, with a separate budget of Rs 1 lakh-crore earmarked for the youth of Odisha over the next decade,” he said.

Additionally, the party pledged to increase scholarships for girls and boys and create two lakh government jobs in the next five years. Mr Patnaik also announced plans for a new skills and entrepreneurship university, State Institute of Fashion Technology, and AI University in Odisha.

In terms of industry, the focus will be on attracting investment in new technologies like semiconductors, IT, and artificial intelligence, alongside promoting eco-friendly tourism. The manifesto also promises free electricity for households using up to 100 units and subsidised electricity for those using 100 to 150 units.

Middle-class families will benefit from initiatives like Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana coverage, interest subvention on home loans, and scholarships for children’s education, the manifesto said.

Additionally, the manifesto outlines plans to empower women, tribal, OBC, and minority communities through interest-free loans, financial linkages for self-help groups, and pension schemes.

According to the manifesto, the SHGs will be provided government business worth Rs 20,000 crore in the next 10 years. Individual women entrepreneurs will be assisted with a corpus fund of Rs 100 crore to provide subsidised loans up to Rs 10 lakh to start and grow their business. Mission Shakti will be pension for women. All grassroots women workers, community support workers, anganwadi workers, and ASHAs will also receive Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) coverage and social security pensions, the BJD promised in its manifesto.

Food security, agricultural support, heritage preservation, and language development are also key components of the manifesto.

The party plans to continue and expand initiatives like the KALIA scheme for farmers and provide financial assistance for dependent girl marriages and crop loans.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

A day after his request for a voluntary retirement came through, VK Pandian, former private secretary to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has been given a cabinet minister rank in the state government.

An order issued by Odisha’s General Administration and Public Grievance department said the IAS officer has been appointed as chairman of the state government’s 5T (Transformation Initiatives) and Nabin Odisha scheme. The order mentions that he will hold a cabinet minister rank.

Earlier, sources from the ruling BJD had said Mr Pandian may join the party and is likely to be given a bigger role ahead of next year’s Assembly polls, news agency PTI reported.

A 2000-batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre, Mr Pandian started his career as the sub-collector of Dharmagarh in Kalahandi in 2002. He was appointed the collector of Mayurbhanj in 2005, and then in 2007, he was made the collector of Ganjam. It was during his posting in Ganjam that he became a trusted officer of the Chief Minister. Mr Pandian joined the Chief Minister’s Office in 2011, and was later promoted as his Mr Patnaik’s private secretary.

Mr Pandian’s rise as the most trusted aide of the BJD chief has drawn fire from the the party’s rivals, who have accused him of misusing a bureacrat’s position.

Soon after his request for voluntary retirement came through, Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka said he would not be surprised if Mr Pandian took charge as chief minister of Odisha before the next polls.

“…such is the power structure in Odisha, no one has clue what’s happening but everyone knows who’s controlling. VRS approved in 3 days during holidays – Super Fast,” he said in a post on X.

Senior Congress MLA SS Saluja said Mr Pandian should have quit public service earlier. “We do not know whether he will join politics or return back to his own state. However, if he joins the BJD, then it will be helpful for the opposition, the Congress is particular,” Mr Saluja told news agency PTI.

BJP chief whip Mohan Majhi said, “Now, he will be able to do politics openly instead of with the mask of a bureaucrat on. He will not be accepted by the people of Odisha.”

Bhubaneswar:

IAS officer VK Pandian, the private secretary of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, took voluntary retirement from government service, officials said on Monday.

Mr Pandian whose rose to prominence as the close aide of the chief minister has often landed him in controversies, with opposition parties alleging that he was misusing his position for political gains.

He was a 2000-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre.

In a letter to the Odisha government’s general administration department, the Centre’s Department of Personnel and Training said his voluntary retirement has been accepted “with the waiver of the notice period as recommended by the State Government”.

The opposition BJP and Congress had asked him to resign and “officially join the BJD”, after he went on a whirlwind tour across the state during which he held 190 meetings to hear public grievances.

Senior Congress MLA SS Saluja welcomed Mr Pandian’s decision to take voluntary retirement.

“We welcome his decision. He should have done it earlier. We do not know whether he will join politics or return back to his own state. However, if he joins the BJD, then it will be helpful for the opposition, the Congress is particular,” SS Saluja said.

BJP chief whip Mohan Majhi said Pandian has resigned to take forward his political activities.

“Now, he will be able to do politics openly instead of with the mask of a bureaucrat on. He will not be accepted by the people of Odisha,” he claimed.

The assembly elections in Odisha will be due early next year and are usually held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bhubaneswar:

A group of 35 labourers from Odisha alleged that they were held captive by a company in Laos for which they were working. Urging the government to bring them back, the labourers in a video clip said the plywood company stopped its operations about one-and-a-half-months ago, but they were neither allowed to return nor paid wages.

The workers from Rajkanika block of Kendrapara district alleged that the company had also forcibly taken away their passports. After it was brought to the notice of the state government, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed officers concerned to make arrangements for bringing them back home.

Following this, the state labour commissioner took up the issue with the Indian embassy in Laos, a CMO official said.

The embassy informed the Odisha government that all steps will be taken for the safe return of the workers to India, he said.

The labourers had sent the video clip to the people in their village, who contacted the local MLA. The legislator in turn brought it to the notice of the state government.

“We have no money or food to eat. We are also not allowed to return,” said Saroj Palai, one of the labourers held captive in the Southeast Asian country.