Bhubaneswar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday levelled land grabbing allegations against senior BJD leader and former agriculture Minister, Pradeep Maharathy. Addressing a presser, BJP spokesperson Golak Mohapatra alleged that Maharathy has encroached upon acres of government land. The estimated value of the encroached government land is worth Rs 100 crore, alleged Mohapatra.
Mohapatra also brought similar land grabbing charges against senior leader Yudhistir Samantaray. According to Mohapatra, Samantaray, the political opponent of Maharathy, has also encroached upon government land worth Rs 300 crore.
According to Mohapatra, it was Samantaray who had moved Orissa High Court in 2015 against Maharathy with government land grab allegations. Though the court had asked the district Collector to resolve such issues within two months, no steps were taken in this regard. Rather both of them usurped government land as both Maharathy and Samantaray have been getting cosy of late, alleged Mohapatra.
“Maharathy has illegally encroached upon government land near his Hunkeipur farm house. Though a petition was filed in Orissa High court, no step was taken by the district administration in this regard. On one hand Odisha government is making tall claims regarding transparency through its 5T model of governance, while on the other, its former minister has usurped hundred acres of government land,” said Mohapatra.
Though Maharathy was seen evading reporters, he said, “Let BJP allege whatever it wants to, but Odisha government will take a decision.”
Yudhistir Samantray, on the other hand, said "I have inquired about why these allegations are being made against me and I have realised that all of them are baseless. I don't want to discuss about them any further."
However, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, Sudam Marndi said, “I have not got any official information and will look into it once it get any official communiqué.”