NEW DELHI: Odisha chief minister and BJD supremo
Naveen Patnaik
on Wednesday dismissed all speculations about his health and slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that the BJP has been spreading rumours about his health for the past 10 years.
“He (
PM Modi
) has stated publicly before that I am his good friend. All he had to do was to pick up a telephone and ring me up and ask me about my health.
This time there a number of people of the BJP from Odisha and Delhi who are spreading rumours about my health,” said Patnaik.
Patnaik expressed his disappointment with PM Modi, who had previously referred to Patnaik as his good friend, saying that if the PM was concerned about his health, “All he had to do was to pick up a telephone and ring me up”.
“Let me assure the PM that I am in perfect health and I have been campaigning in our state for the last month,” he added.
Is there any
Earlier, PM Modi had expressed concern over the ‘deterioration’ in the Odisha CM’s health, suggesting that there might be a sinister plot behind it. He announced that after assuming office, the BJP government in Odisha will establish a special committee to investigate the sudden deterioration in Naveen’s health.
“The well-wishers of Naveen babu are worried over his deteriorating health condition. It has been worsening over the last one year. Is there a conspiracy behind this? Is the lobby that is currently running the Patnaik government on his behalf responsible for it?” PM Modi said at an election rally at Baripada in Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha constituency.
“If the BJP forms the government in Odisha after the ongoing assembly elections, it would constitute a committee to ascertain the reason behind the deterioration of Patnaik’s health,” he further added.
The Prime Minister raised similar concerns at rallies in Remuna and Balasore, saying that if the BJP wins the assembly polls in Odisha the BJP would form a committee to find the reason behind the decline in Patnaik’s health.
“The committee’s primary objective will be to uncover any potential foul play or hidden agendas that may have contributed to the Naveen babu’s falling health,” PM said.
At the Balasore rally, PM Modi reiterated his concerns for Patnaik’s health saying, “his well-wishers are worried why his health declined so fast.”
“It’s a sensitive issue relating to Naveen babu’s health. His well-wishers are worried why his health declined so fast. Naveen babu is not in a position to do anything on his own,” he said.
BJP turning non-issues into issues: Patnaik
On Tuesday, Patnaik had responded to a tweet by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, showing BJD leader VK Pandian grabbing Naveen Patnaik’s trembling hand and trying to hide it from public view.
The 77-year-old leader who’s hands have been visibly trembling for at least five years responded to the viral video saying that the BJP, a party known for turning non-issues into issues, is now focusing on his hands.
“I believe the BJP, which is known to make non-issues into issues, are discussing my hands. This will certainly not work,” Patnaik said.
(With inputs from agencies)
