Bhubaneswar: Barely a couple of days after Kendrapara MP Baijayant 'Jay' Panda's political coordinator Debasish Mallick quit and brought allegations against the former, ex-president of BJD's Kendrapara Minority Cell, Salim Khan exposed a major conspiracy within his party against the Parliamentarian today.
In a press conference, Salim Khan alleged that, "Such conspiracy is being hatched against Jay Panda by a former BJD Minister and a senior bureaucrat and it was on their direction that Debashis Mallick quit his job."
Khan further informed that Debashis had also lured him to be a part of the conspiracy hatched against Baijayant Panda by Pranab Prakash Das (Bobby) and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's private secretary VK Pandian.
Khan also shared a 25-minute long audio tape of the telephonic conservation between him and Debasish on April 16, a day before the latter parted ways with the Parliamentarian on the occasion of the death anniversary of former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.
In the audio clip, a person claimed to be Debashis can be heard saying that “Bobby Bhai (Pranab Prakash Das) will ensure that we do not face problems and we just have to 'drop a bomb' by giving statements before media on Biju Patnaik's death anniversary.
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"If you (Salim) support him (Baijayant) then you will be harassed and even attacked. We have been discussing the plan since long and now 'P' is getting irritated and asking to take immediate decision," as per Debashis voice in the audio tape.
In the telephonic conversation with Salim, Debasish is trying to lure the former by saying, "Our importance in party will grow and we will be rewarded if we trouble him (Jay Panda). Be it Kendrapara, Bargarh or Dhenkanal, the MP will be harassed wherever he goes."
"There is nothing to worry about Chief Minister Naveen's Patnaik's health although water is being drawn from his stomach through syringes. Even Amitabh Bachchan is also surviving this way," Debashis is heard saying.
“Nothing much will happen as already a deal has been struck between BJD and BJP in Odisha,” Debashis is heard discussing with Salim Khan prior to leaving Jay Panda for whom he worked as a political coordinator for last 10 to 12 years.
While addressing the press conference, Salim further informed that he was lured and threatened to be part of the major conspiracy against the Parliamentarian which he refuted.
Moreover, Salim has sought Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s help citing threat to his life and family.
In reaction to claims made by Salim Khan, BJD leader and Ex-Minister Pranab Prakash Das (Bobby) said, "We were expecting a big expose, but it turned out to be news fuse."
Soon after the press conference, Kendrapara MP Jay Panda took to social media and tweeted, "Sad to see that a former colleague has sold himself to the devil. Contrast that with Salim Khan, who resisted big threats & inducements from the coterie that now runs BJD, & demonstrated immense courage in sticking to principle & not participating in the conspiracy against me."