BHUBANESHWAR: Though Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik used to fly abroad quite frequently earlier, he has not undertaken any foreign trip since he became chief minister in 2000.
“Patnaik has not travelled outside India even for once after he became chief minister,” said parliamentary affairs minister Raghunath Mohanty. But he encouraged other ministers and officers to visit foreign countries to expand their vision.
Surya Narayana Patro, energy, IT and culture minister of Orissa, who has extensively toured foreign countries said, “Naveen encourages his colleagues to go on foreign trips if they are purposeful,” he said.
Patnaik had spent most of his life in foreign shores before he plunged into active politics in Orissa.
“Between May 2004 and October 31, 2007, Naveen had only taken Rs10 lakh as his travel expenses, which was much less in comparison to most of the chief ministers of other states. Naveen’s travel expense would not even cross Rs20 lakh during the last eight years from 2000 to 2008,” said a senior official, adding that if at all, he visits Delhi for official functions.
But why is Patnaik averse to going abroad? Secretary-general of the party Damodor Rout said Patnaik is focussed on the overall development of the state and had no time for foreign trips.
Sources close to the chief minister said Patnaik even politely turned down the request of Posco officials for a foreign tour.
