Seven-time ruling BJD MLA Pradeep Maharathy on Thursday claimed he has been observing protest fast since Wednesday after getting "extremely hurt" by the remarks of the party minister in the Assembly critical of Maharathy's performance as the agriculture minister during previous Naveen Patnaik's government.
Maharathy said in the assembly that he was pained by Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari's comments that a majority 80 out of the 128 cold storages getting closed during his ministerial tenure last time.
"I am extremely hurt at the minister's statement, and have not taken any food since Wednesday. I urge the Speaker to expunge the remarks from the records of the assembly," Maharathy said.
Pujari had on Wednesday said out of the total 128 cold storages in the state,only 48 are active and the rest became defunct during previous minister's time.
Pujari had also said sarcastically that the potato mission had started and ended during his (Maharthy) tenure itself.
Dissatisfied with the minister's remark on cold storages, Maharathy said, "When I became agriculture minister, only 24 cold storages out of the total 128 were in operation in the state. I increased the number to 48."
The BJD leader also said he will not come to the assembly if his "grievances are not addressed".
Speaker S N Patro said "objectionable" remarks, if any, should be expunged from the assembly records.
Pujari refused to comment on Maharathy's remarks.
Meanwhile, the government's chief whip Pramila Mallick said she does not believe that Maharathy is on fast, as he is a diabetic patient.
"He must have eaten something before coming to the assembly. His style of talking is like that," she said.
Maharathy shot back, saying he had no idea when Mallick "became a doctor".
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