Bhubaneswar: The Opposition BJD Tuesday strongly opposed the proposed move by the BJP government to lease out Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) to a private entity, terming the proposed privatisation an “attack on Odia Asmita” and warning of an agitation if the decision is not withdrawn.
Addressing a press conference here, senior BJD general secretary Lekhashree Samantasinghar alleged that the government had approved handing over the airport to a private entity under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. She said the airport, named after legendary leader Biju Patnaik, was among the country’s major and profitable airports, generating more than Rs 200 crore in annual profit and handling around 50 lakh passengers. Questioning the rationale behind its proposed privatisation, she alleged that instead of investing in further development, the government had decided to hand over the airport to a private entity. Samantasinghar accused the BJP government of pursuing a policy of “selling state assets” rather than protecting and developing them. She alleged that the Centre was seeking to exploit Odisha’s resources while the state government was supporting such decisions.
Questioning the silence of the state government, Samantasinghar asked why the CM, 20 BJP MPs and the state’s Rajya Sabha members had not opposed the move despite being aware of its implications. She said several development initiatives had been undertaken at the airport during former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s tenure and claimed that its value could reach Rs 7,000 8,000 crore.
She questioned the rationale behind handing over such a major public asset to a private company for 50 years. Describing BPIA as a symbol of Odia identity, she demanded withdrawal of the proposed privatisation. She warned that the BJD would launch a strong agitation if the BJP government failed to revoke the decision.
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