Some BJD leaders have come under scanner after their alleged political link with the chief of ‘Manabavad Sangathan' (Humanitarian Organisation) Manas Das came to the fore with some videos going viral on social media.
A couple of days back, a disturbing video of cruel torture to a father-son duo from Khordha district by the members of the local outfit had gone viral on social media creating massive outcry in Odisha.
According to reports, the so-called ‘Humanitarian Organisation’ which has now found itself in a soup for allegedly torturing people in Taliban style is said to have been functioning like a full-fledged political outfit for years. Many videos about the political link of the head of the organisation with some BJD senior leaders, has recently gone viral, making the matter even murkier.
The videos are showing that senior BJD leaders like Prasanna Patasani, Prashanta Nanda, Priyadarshi Mishra and Sushant Raut are the followers of Das who is a lawyer by profession. Even, Nanda and Raut were seen bowing their heads before Das who is addressed as ‘Guruji’ by his followers.
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Former MP of Bhubaneswar Patsani could also be seen sharing dice with Das and addressing him as ‘Guruji ’in one of the viral videos. He is also heard and seen heaping praise on Das by terming him as a world famous personality.
However, most of the leaders refuted that they have any kind of relationship with Das.
Reacting on the viral video, Patsani said, “Guruji had made a movie and invited me to the ‘Mahurat’. As I am a poet, I used to attend these kinds of functions. I gave a speech there and I don’t think there is anything wrong in it.”
“I don’t have any kind of relationship with Das. I don’t even know him. In politics, we mix with different people, but it is not always possible to know everyone,” said Mishra.
Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar North MLA Rout said, “I might have bowed before Das during election time as he is elder to me. But I don’t have any kind of relationship with him.”
“If he has done anything illegal, law will take its own course,” said Rout.
As per sources, Das formed ‘Manabavad Sangathan’ in 2005 and eventually joined Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in 2018. Under the patronage of the political party, the organisation continues to spread its organisation across the State.
Rules of the organisation decree that anyone interested to avail its membership can do so by registering with a meagre fee of Rs 30. Thereafter, the members have to give donations of thousands of rupees as per their capacity. Anyone found complaining or refusing to pay were often being tortured or threatened for life but none dared to complaint against Das and his core associates.
Meanwhile, Das said the allegation against him is false and baseless.
“As Panchayat election is approaching, some people have hatched a conspiracy to defame me,” said Das.
(Edited by Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)