Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jul 10:

Proving the often made allegation of the Opposition that the Naveen Patnaik-led government in Odisha is run by bureaucrats and not by ministers to be correct, Patnaik’s S C and S T Development Minister Lal Bihari Himirika today nonchalantly admitted that he had no idea of innocent tribals having been killed in police firing in Kandhamal.

Himirika on Kandhamal killings

Himirika today pleaded ignorance about the Kandhamal firing when asked by reporters outside the venue of the extended executive body meeting of the ruling BJD here today.

“Where were Adivasis killed?” asked Minister Himirika to reporters clearly indicating how the Naveen Patnaik run government in the state was being run by bureaucrats and not ministers.

“I don’t have any such information. Will see if any such thing has taken place, I came here today. I was in my village. If this has happened my department will surely inform me. I will see,” stated Himirika, himself a tribal, to reporters in a body language devoid of emotion when informed by reporters that 36 hours have elapsed since the occurrence of the incident and the Chief Minister has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident while announcing a monetary assistance of Rs 5 lakh and a job each to the next of kin of the deceased persons.

When reporters informed the Minister of Opposition parties having accused the Naveen Patnaik government of being an anti-Adivasi government, Himirika asked:  “How can our government be anti-Adivasi when our government is doing so much for Adivasis? How can our government be against Adivasis? This is not possible.”