Odisha: BJD-BJP jostle to take credit for Bhubaneswar-Surat flight

Bhubaneswar: Couple of days after the launch of Bhubaneswar-Surat direct flight, ruling-BJD and BJP were today in race to take credit for the commencement of the air services.

Odisha Assembly Speaker SN Patro at a function of Non-Resident Odias in Surat said the Bhubaneswar-Surat flight services could take off only because of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The Speaker’s statement has sparked a new controversy and a debate between the two parties.

Adding fuel to the fire, Government Chief Whip and BJD MLA Pramila Mallick said the credit for the flight services goes to the Odisha Chief Minister and BJP is unnecessarily taking mileage out of it.

In his reaction, State BJP General Secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said the Odisha Assembly Speaker should keep the sanctity of the post while abiding the Supreme Court directive. He should not issue statements which could tarnish his image, Patro added.

“It is wrong to say that only because of the Odisha Chief Minister the flight services to Surat from Bhubaneswar could begin. Role of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and other leaders cannot be ignored. However, we accept the fact that the Odisha Chief Minister had written to the Centre demanding launch of the Bhubaneswar-Surat flight services,” said Harichandan.

Air India’s Bhubaneswar-Surat flight services began on January 20. The flight operates between Bhubaneswar and Surat on Mondays and Thursdays whereas the flight services from Surat to Bhubaneswar is available on Fridays and Sundays.