TV
Political debates escalated in Odisha on Sunday following a summon by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Bishnupada Sethi in connection with a high-profile bribe case.
Congress leader Jayadev Jena questioned the effectiveness of CBI’s summon, expressing his doubts about any immediate consequential action. People of the State may see the probe process decelerate in the coming days, he speculated.
Also Read: Bribery case: CBI likely to grill Principal Secretary Bishnupada Sethi today
“Bishnupada Sethi is a senior IAS officer. The CBI action which is being heard against him will gradually slow down, as it appears to me. The incidents (corruption cases) that occurred in the past days during previous BJD-led government were later neutralised by the BJP and the Narendra Modi government,” Jayadev Jena told mediapersons.
“It would be something like Pahadara Musika Prasaba,” the Congress leader said quoting an Odia adage meaning ‘a mountain will be laboured, which will bring forth a mouse’.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) pointed out that vigilance measures were actively being taken against corrupt officials during the Naveen Patnaik-led government. The party suggested that the so-called ‘double engine’ government could lead to beneficial results.
“Earlier, you might have seen that the BJD-led government had suspended a senior IAS officer (former ORHDC managing director Vinod Kumar) over corruption charges. We also accept the principle of ‘zero tolerance’ towards corruption” BJD leader Sudhir Kumar Samal said in his reaction.
“However, such cases should be disposed of as early as possible and there should be no Tarikh Ke Baad Tarikh (date after date) like Hindi films,” the BJD leader expressed.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on their part, affirmed their position on corruption, vowing stringent actions against any bureaucrats involved. Emphasising a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy, the ruling party remarked that corrupt practices will not be condoned, irrespective of whether they are committed by political leaders or officials.
Must Read: CBI summoned Principal Secretary IAS Bishnupada Sethi in Rs 10L bribery case
“Previous government ruled Odisha for the last 24 years and corruption reached its height during that time. People of the State were getting suffocated as it was rampantly going on in every sector,” Bhubaneswar-Ekamra BJP legislator Babu Singh said.
“Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi earlier announced that no one will be spared. Rather, the corrupt persons (be it officials, politicians, or party workers) will find their places behind bars,” Babu Singh asserted.
Strong actions will be taken against corrupt officials, the BJP MLA added.
