Naveen Patnaik will get privilege denied to Mamata, might meet Pope in Vatican

Express News Service

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is prone to turn out to be India’s first chief minister to satisfy the Pope, head of Catholic Christians world wide.

Patnaik is about to embark on a week-long international tour within the final week of this month. His first cease shall be Dubai, the place he’s scheduled to attend an buyers’ meet. From Dubai, he would proceed to Rome in Italy to satisfy some extra potential buyers.

Sources stated efforts are being made to facilitate the chief minister’s assembly with Pope Francis on the Vatican City throughout his go to to Italy.

This is Patnaik’s first worldwide go to within the final 10 years and the second since he took over because the chief minister of the state. It is reliably learnt that the chief minister’s workplace has obtained all clearances from the central authorities for his international journey.

The Union authorities had final yr denied permission to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to attend a World Peace Conference in Rome. The convention was to be attended by Pope Francis, amongst others.

The Centre’s denial of permission to Banerjee had led to a vitriolic assault on the federal government by the Trinamool Congress Party which accused the Centre of taking part in “vindictive politics”. Questioning the Centre, Banerjee stated, “How many places will you (Centre) not let me visit? You can’t stop me forever.”

The authorities, whereas denying the permission, stated that the “event is not commensurate in status for participation by the chief minister of a state”.

Sources stated that the Centre cleared Patnaik’s journey with out a lot ado because the ruling National Democratic Alliance led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP might have the assist of Odisha chief minister’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD) within the Presidential election scheduled for subsequent month. It is learnt that BJD has a large presence within the Presidential electoral faculty.

Patnaik needed to minimize quick his journey to London in 2012 as his trusted lieutenant Pyarimohan Mahapatra had tried to rally the assist of BJD MLAs and overthrow the chief minister in his absence. Patnaik managed to place down the revolt. But he has not left the nation since then.