Naveen Patnaik Reacts To PM Modi's 'Probe Into Failing Health' Comment, Says 'Should've Avoided...'

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik refuted PM Modi's public claims about his deteriorating health, stating that Modi could have privately inquired if he was concerned.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday responded to PM Narendra Modi's claim over his "failing health", saying that he should have avoided a public statement on the matter. CM Naveen Patnaik referred to Modi's previous remark saying that the Odisha CM was his "good friend" and said that the Prime Minister could simply have called him to inquire about his health.

On Wednesday, PM Modi hinted at a "conspiracy" and claimed that Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik’s health was “deteriorating”. He said the BJP will set up a “special committee” to investigate the “conspiracy”, leading to the "deterioration" of Patnaik’s health.

'CM Naveen Patnaik in an interview to news agency ANI said: "All I have to say is that if PM Modi was so concerned about my health, all he needed was to pick up a telephone and inquire about my health instead of stating it loudly at a public meeting three times yesterday. This means that all he is trying to do is garner votes during the election time."

He further said: "This rumour has been spread by the people in Delhi for the last 10 years... My health is perfectly alright... I feel no issues at all. I am in perfect health."

'Ridiculous': Naveen Patnaik On VK Pandiyan Managing His Affairs

During the interview, Naveen Patnaik responded to the BJP's allegations that former IAS officer VK Pandian was his "gatekeeper" and took decisions in his stead. "That's ridiculous. It's an old allegation that holds no weight... Pandian is not even fighting elections," Patnaik said. These personal attacks, he said, were the result of the Opposition's [BJP in Odisha] desperation. "They are getting desperate as their popularity is waning in the country. It's about both state and national politics," Patnaik said. He said he has never left any Cabinet meeting to be chaired by anyone other than him.

Earlier, BJP leader and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged that Pandian was controlling even Patnaik's movements. "This is a deeply distressing video. Shri VK Pandian ji is even controlling the hand movements of Shri Naveen Babu. I shudder to imagine the level of control a retired ex bureaucrat from Tamil Nadu is currently exercising over the future of Odisha! BJP is determined is give back the reins of Odisha to the people of the State [sic]," he captioned a video that showed Pandian moving the CM's "shaking" hand away from view during a public meeting.

Patnaik said it was not a medical condition and the matter was being exaggerated by the Assam CM.