TNI Bureau: Even as the Rajya Sabha debates the FDI in Retail, Rajya Sabha MP and expelled BJD leader Pyari Mohan Mohapatra decided to abstain from voting and returned to Bhubaneswar last evening.
When the FDI debate was initiated, Pyari was in the House. But, defended his decision to abstain, blaming Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the mess. Pyari alleged that the BJD did not treat him as the MP and did not even send any instructions on FDI.
Support Independent Journalism? Keep us live.
The former BJD strategist also clarified that he was not informed about the party whip even though he asked to BJD Chief Whip in Rajya Sabha Mangala Kishan regarding this. In a strong-worded letter to Naveen Patnaik, Pyari wondered why the CM is “crying wolf” on FDI when he had allowed Reliance Fresh to enter the Odisha market in the past.
Pyari Mohapatra further alleged that he was denied the right to vote in FDI debate, as he was not sure about his own position. “I never got my suspension letter. I never received my expulsion letter. I came to know about these things from media only. Even the Rajya Sabha Chairman has not received any communication about my expulsion. How can I vote as a Rajya Sabha MP at a time when the BJD supremo has created confusion about my stature,” he asked.