The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised questions on the alleged 'Z category security cover' to BJD leader VK Pandian, even though the latter is not holding any constitutional posts.
A delegation of the BJP led by senior leader Samir Mohanty on Thursday lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha. It alleged that at the time of electioneering, helipads were being arranged for Pandian.
The saffron party also complained the CEO that an assistant sub-inspector of Ganjam is allegedly threatening people with false cases. Though some sarpanchs of the locality and some zilla parishad members had complained against the ASI, no action has been taken against him, the party alleged.
“On what basis VK Pandian is being provided Z category security? Why Pandian is so scared of people? He is neither an MLA nor an MP or in any constitutional post. He is just a member of the Biju Janata Dal(BJD),” the BJP asked.
In the complaint, the party also questioned how the chief secretary and the home secretary can recommend Z-category security for a member of the ruling BJD. Such an incident raises questions if the state really has a chief secretary or not.
Speaking to the media, BJP leader Samir Mohanty said, "The Gumasta babu who is remote-controlling the video of the Chief Minister is in no constitutional post. He is just a common member of the BJD. RTI queries revealed that he was given Z-category security. If someone is interested in netagiri/ politics, why they should fear people? There is no such system in any democratic system.”
Besides Z security, the district administrations are making helipads for Pandian’s visits, which is a blatant violation of the model code of conduct, the BJP observed in the complaint.
However, no comments were received from the BJD.