BJD, BJP fight over IT credit

Bhubaneswar: The Opposition BJD and ruling BJP Monday engaged in a war of words claiming credit for establishment of new IT operation centres and a semiconductor unit in the state. While BJD leaders ridiculed the state’s BJP government accusing it of taking credit for the good work of former CM Naveen Patnaik, particularly in the IT and semiconductor sectors, the BJP alleged that the previous government was known only for ‘signing MoUs’.

In separate posts on X, BJD leaders Sasmit Patra, TK Behera, Bhrugu Baxipatra and Lekhashri Samantsinghar claimed that Odisha became a thriving IT hub during the previous BJD government, while the new regime is simply busy ‘cutting ribbons’. The BJD leaders’ comments came with reference to CM Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurating operation centres of four IT companies and laying foundation stone for ‘India’s first’ silicon carbide manufacturing facility being set up by RIR Power Electronics Ltd, Friday.

Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain rejected the BJD leaders’ allegation and claimed that the BJP government, during the last two months, took initiatives due to which the companies established their projects. “It is natural that whoever implements the project, gets the credit. The BJD government was all along busy signing MoUs and not implementing them which the BJP government has done in just two months ‘ time,” Swain said. BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra, in a post on X, said, “Under the dynamic leadership of Shri Naveen Patnaik, Odisha transformed into a thriving IT hub. From pioneering incentives for semiconductor investments to conducting global roadshows that brought industry giants to Odisha, every step was meticulously planned. Yet, the new government is busy cutting ribbons and claiming the success of these initiatives.

Odisha knows the truth—real progress comes from vision and hard work, not from taking shortcuts to fame!” Behera, the former E and IT minister, said Odisha’s IT and semiconductor sectors saw unprecedented growth with MoUs signed with global giants like IBM, Cognizant, and RIR under Naveen Patnaik’s leadership. “Several projects were ready for inauguration, but the Model Code of Conduct halted their operation. Now, the new government is just cutting ribbons for the projects which are BJD’s achievements. Time for them to come up with original plans instead of taking credit for work done by the BJD government,” Behera said.

Baxipatra said Odisha became the first state to offer a 25 per cent subsidy on semiconductor investments under Patnaik’s leadership, and from IBM to RIR, the IT boom in the state is a result of BJD’s strategic planning and ‘Make In Odisha’ roadshows. “The new government is just cutting ribbons on projects that the BJD govt worked hard to bring. The people of Odisha are not fool. They know who really worked for them!” Baxipatra said. Samantsinghar said the previous BJD government approved four major semiconductor projects for Odisha and sent them to the Cente for clearance. “What is their status now? The people of Odisha deserve answers! Stop the ribbon-cutting politics and start delivering results,” she posted on X.