Bhubaneswar: Hours after BJP legislature party leader KV Singh Deo stirred hornet's nest by claiming that Odisha Chief Minister was quizzed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the multi-crore chit fund scam, Naveen retorted to such allegations as 'absolute nonsense'.
Citing media reports that Naveen was also grilled by the CBI in the chit fund scam in the State, Singh Deo had sought a clarification from him earlier in the day today.
Responding to BJP leader KV Singh Deo's allegations, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik stated that, "No TMC leader has been in touch with us at least for a year. Our party's statements yesterday had to do with the events with our own State. Everyone would like CBI to do a professional and non-political job."
While responding to media query regarding Singh Deo's remarks of CBI grilling him, Patnaik termed it as 'absolute nonsense'.
Singh Deo had further alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had sought the help of several political leaders including CM Naveen Patnaik on her future course of action in her fight against the top probe agency. He stated that Mamata is trying to garner support from Naveen as he is also involved in chit fund scam.
Addressing a presser in Bhubaneswar today, Singh Deo wanted to know who Saroj Sahu was and the status of the corpus fund set by Odisha government.
Singh Deo's allegation came in the wake of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announcing to seek the support of leaders of several political parties including Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik.
Banerjee, who has been staging dharna over the issue since last two days, said, “I’m sure he (CM Naveen Patnaik) will stand by me. I’m not alone in this fight; many senior leaders cutting across party lines are with me. I will decide whether to continue dharna or not after having discussions with all.”
BJP vice-president Samir Mohanty on the hand snubbed Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik's clarification and stated that Naveen has become reactive in the whole episode. "It seems that Odisha government doesn't have the guts to speak the truth and CM Naveen is losing his temper. Naveen should clarify whether there weren't talks between him and Mamata on the chit fund issue when WB CM had visited Odisha to meet arrested TMC leader Sudipta Bandyopadhyay," questioned Mohanty.
Meanwhile, the second day of the budget session at the Odisha Assembly began on a stormy note today with BJP legislators creating a ruckus in the House targeting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and WB CM Mamata Banerjee over chit fund scam. Following the pandemonium, the Speaker adjourned the House for an hour till 11.30 AM and again till 3 PM.