CM skips food Park inauguration,BJD alleges breach of protocol

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's absence at the inauguration of the Mega Food Park at Rayagada district triggered a row with the ruling Biju Janata Dal today alleging breach of protocol, a charge immediately denied by two Union Ministers.
Though name of Patnaik and Odisha's MSME Minister Prafulla Samal appeared in the invitation cards and public advertisement issued on the occasion of the inauguration of the Rs 80 crore MITS Food Park, none from the state government attended the function at Rayagada.
Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated the project in presence of Petroleum and Natural Gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, however, rejected the allegation made by the BJD.
"I personally talked to Naveen Babu over phone and invited him to the event. He also assured me of attending the programme or sending ministers as his representatives."
"It is unfortunate that none of the State representative took part in the programme despite my request," Kaur Badal said.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also expressed his displeasure over Patnaik skipping the function.
"It is wrong to say that the chief minister was not invited to the function. Union Minister for Food Processing Industries had written a letter to Patnaik on May 9 and talked to him over phone," Pradhan clarified.

The Oil Minister said that it (Patnaik skipping the event) shows attitude of the state government towards the tribal farmers of Rayagada as none from the state attended the inaugural function while two Union Ministers could come down to this remote district.
The Union Ministers reaction came after BJD spokesman Samir Ranjan Dash alleged breach of protocol at the inaugural function.
"In a federal set up, chief minister is the head of the State and the chief guest of any government programme. Unfortunately, nobody bothered to take his consent for the inauguration of the food park in Rayagada district. This is violation of protocol. The chief secretary will apprise the matter to Centre soon," Dash told reporters here.

The food park, which has been developed over a sprawling 50 acres of land at a cost Rs 80 crore at Bhujabala under Kolnara block in Rayagada.