Money being paid to bring crowd to 5T Chairman VK Pandian’s programme? Cong sees red, BJD refutes

Is money being paid to bring people to 5T Chairman VK Pandian’s programmes in Odisha? It is alleged that whoever brings people, they are being paid Rs 4000 along with food and water. Such allegations have now been reported from Koraput district where Pandian had attended a programme on Saturday.

A purported video of money being paid to people has also surfaced. The programme was held at a government upper primary school at Jeypore.

After Pandian’s event, money was distributed to the BJD party workers. A person, who had reportedly brought people to the venue, claims to have received Rs 4000 in the video. Purported visuals of former Pottangi block chairman Antaram Matam allegedly calculating how much money will be paid on pen and paper by sitting inside a car have also surfaced.

As such things were organised in presence of BJD leader and observer of Pottangi constituency Srinivas Bala, Congress’ Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati has slammed the Odisha government.

“It is not anyone’s or government’s property, rather it is taxpayers’ money. People were not given anything in the last 25 years. Everybody knows whose money it is. There is resentment among people and BJD is trying to pacify them by paying visits to temples, churches and other places,” alleged Bahinipati.

Responding to Congress’ allegations, senior BJD leader Rabi Nanda said, “The allegations that the publicity is being done on government money is completely baseless. We are working for people work and hence, they are publicising Naveen Patnaik’s words.”