Naveen Takes China’s Name in By-Poll Rally

Bhubaneswar (Reporters Today Bureau): Amid the prevailing tension in the Sino-India border, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik yesterday said at a public meeting for Baleswar by-election that his father Biju Patnaik, who was also a CM of the state, was in favour of developing missiles which could scare China. While addressing his second virtual rally for the November 3 assembly by-election, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president also spoke on the accolades received by his government by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) in disaster management.

“While visiting Baleswar, two persons came to my mind. They are Biju Babu and Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. Biju Babu used to tell Dr Kalam to make such a missile in Chandipur (in Baleswar district) which can scare China,” Naveen said while addressing the voters. Chandipur in Baleswar district has an Integrated Test Range which is a well equipped Test and Evaluation centre of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). It has been set up to provide safe and reliable launch facilities for performance evaluation of rockets, missiles and air-borne weapon system.

Dr Kalam, who later became the President of India, was associated with the DRDO between 1992 and 1999. In his third stint as chief minister, Biju Patnaik was at the helm in Odisha from 1990 to 1995. “Whenever there is a missile test-fire from Balasore district, two patriots – Biju Patnaik and Dr Kalam – come to my mind,” Naveen said.

He also said that India tested its land-to-land Prithivi missile for the first time in Chandipur in 1993 when Biju Patnaik was the chief minister. After Biju Patnaik died in 1997, a regional party headed by Naveen Patnaik is named after Biju Patnaik. Naveen said that during the past 21 years, Odisha has turned out to be a model in disaster management across the globe and won accolades from the UN and the WHO.  Naveen also listed the developmental works that his government has taken up in Baleswar.