'The actions of a politician are always under scrutiny'

BJP state president Basanta Panda recently had a brush with two gun-toting youths in his office. He tells Ashok Pradhan that such things don't scare him at all

Were you frightened when the two men showed up in your office with 'guns'?
Such incidents cannot be completely unexpected when one is in public life. The two youths who came to me seeking help for the treatment of their kin brandished 'guns' without provocation around noon. Everything happened within minutes. Other leaders and party workers rushed to help me. Later, it turned out that the guns were not real. It is for the police to find out why they did what they did.

If they were sent by political rivals, my message to them is that I am not going to be bogged down by such tactics. Also, from the bunch of papers they placed on my table, I found that they were annoyed with me because apparently I didn't respond when they called to complain about the improper portrayal of a goddess on a TV channel. I don't remember getting such a phone call.

What is the mechanism to check criminals' entry in your party? Two of your party workers were recently arrested for a murder in Ganjam district?
There can't be a mechanism to know if somebody will commit a crime. Moreover, there are many politically motivated cases against people in politics.

It's difficult on my part to figure out who is a criminal. But if someone has committed a crime, it's for the police and the judiciary to take it to its logical conclusion.

There should not be any politics in it. Unfortunately, BJD is misusing police to frame rivals.

Your leadership has been questioned after BJP Bargarh chief Narayan Sahu quit the party with the Bijepur bypoll around the corner.
The actions and the efficiency of a political leader are constantly scrutinized. But Sahu's leaving the party has nothing to do with my leadership. It is at best a reflection of his personal ambition. The BJP is an ideology-based party where individuals are not very important. Sahu's son (Sanjay) has been booked in a murder case in Gaisilat police station. He may have thought that he will get the ruling party's help by joining it. This will have no impact on the resurgence of BJP. Such aberrations happen. Bijepur is going to ours.

Labour minister Susanta Singh has accused the BJP government at the Centre of influencing the Election Commission to delay the Bijepur bypoll to give BJP an advantage.
Such irresponsible remarks should not be made against constitutional bodies. It shows BJD's fear of losing the bypoll. As per norms, the election is bound to happen within six months of the seat falling vacant (which happened in August). One should not be so judgemental. Let the EC complete its task within the time that the Constitution gives it.