‘She has right to do what she desires’: Naveen Patnaik on sister Gita Mehta declining Padma Shri

Noted writer Gita Mehta, Patnaik’s elder sister, had declined to accept the Padma Shri last week, saying its timing was questionable as the general election was set to take place and the award may cause embarrassment to both the Odisha government and her.

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik said on Monday that his sister Gita Mehta has every right to decline the Padma Shri award. “My sister has a right to do whatever she desires,” Patnaik told the media in New Delhi.

Naveen Patnaik rubbished allegations made by Congress president Rahul Gandhi that he was remote-controlled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his government’s involvement in corruption. (PTI/File Photo)

Noted writer Gita Mehta, Patnaik’s elder sister, had declined to accept the Padma Shri last week, saying its timing was questionable as the general election was set to take place and the award may cause embarrassment to both the Odisha government and her.

Mehta had been named for the Padma Shri in the ‘Foreigners’ category for her outstanding contribution to the field of art and literature. The CM also rubbished allegations made by Congress president Rahul Gandhi that he was remote-controlled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his government’s involvement in corruption.

“Bilkul Bakwaas (absolute trash),” responded Patnaik.

He also reviewed the pending issues with the officials of Union government at the Odisha Bhavan here. He said the Centre is yet to transfer ₹6,400-crore due to the state, with only one month left for the financial year to end.

While the state government is spending more than ₹3,000 crore on drinking water from the state budget, the Centre has allocated ₹180 crore, of which only ₹80 crore has released. For poverty alleviation, out of ₹200 crore, the state has received only ₹6 crore, he said.