Congress leader questions Naveen Patnaik's 'sincereity' to Odisha

Questioning Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's "sincerity" towards Odisha and its people, Congress Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan on Saturday gave him five tasks including speaking two sentences in Odia during a debate in the Assembly.

Harichandan asked Patnaik to name the author of 'Bande Utkal Janani', regarded as the state's song, and recite two stanzas "to prove his genuine respect and love for Odisha".

The chief minister was targeted during a debate on an adjournment motion in the assembly on hunger in the state despite the cheap rice scheme for the poor.

The Congress Chief Whip also asked the chief minister to close his eyes and speak two sentences in Odia and read out four lines from Odia script after opening his eyes.

Questioning the chief minister's "respect for his roots," he asked Patnaik to give the old name of Bhanjanagar, his home in Ganjam district.

Harichandan claimed that despite being the chief minister for the last 13 years, the BJD chief had failed to understand the sentiment of the people and simply deceived them.

Members of both opposition and treasury benches looked amused at the Congress leader's posers.