By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 29, 2024: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday dismissed all speculations about his health. The BJD supremo slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that the BJP has been spreading rumours about his health for the past decade.

“He (PM Modi) has stated publicly before that I am his good friend. All he had to do was to pick up a telephone and ring me up and ask me about my health. This time there a number of people of the BJP from Odisha and Delhi who are spreading rumours about my health,” Naveen said.

“Let me assure the PM that I am in perfect health and I have been campaigning in our state for the last month,” he added.

Earlier, Modi had expressed concern over the ‘deterioration’ in the Odisha CM’s health, suggesting that there might be a sinister plot behind it. He announced that after assuming office, the BJP government in Odisha will establish a special committee to investigate the sudden deterioration in Naveen’s health.

“The well-wishers of Naveen babu are worried over his deteriorating health condition. It has been worsening over the last one year. Is there a conspiracy behind this? Is the lobby that is currently running the Patnaik government on his behalf responsible for it?” Modi said at an election rally at Baripada in Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha constituency.

“If the BJP forms the government in Odisha after the ongoing assembly elections, it would constitute a committee to ascertain the reason behind the deterioration of Patnaik’s health,” he further added.

“The committee’s primary objective will be to uncover any potential foul play or hidden agendas that may have contributed to the Naveen babu’s falling health,” PM said.

At the Balasore rally, PM Modi reiterated his concerns for Patnaik’s health saying, “his well-wishers are worried why his health declined so fast.”

“It’s a sensitive issue relating to Naveen babu’s health. His well-wishers are worried why his health declined so fast. Naveen babu is not in a position to do anything on his own,” he said.

On Tuesday, Patnaik had responded to a tweet by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, showing BJD leader VK Pandian grabbing Naveen Patnaik’s trembling hand and trying to hide it from public view.

The 77-year-old leader whose hands have been visibly trembling for at least five years responded to the viral video saying that the BJP, a party known for turning non-issues into issues, is now focusing on his hands.

“I believe the BJP, which is known to make non-issues into issues, are discussing my hands. This will certainly not work,” Patnaik said.