Bhubaneswar: A day after Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan questioned the Chief Minister’s silence on the raging controverrsy over Food Supplies minister Sanjay Das Burma alleged links with chit fund scamster Pradip Sethy, BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb on Thursday mounted scathing attack on Pradhan by asking him about his links with the Vyapam scam and the Dhalasamant brothers.
Talking to media persons, Deb said, “The Union Minister has raised questions about the Chief Minister’s morality on the basis of statements made by a minister and an accused. I would suggest first of all the Union minister should set the tradition.”
Deb went on saying that the main accused of the Vyapam scam had mentioned the name of the Union minster (Pradhan) in his I-T return noting he had booked air tickets for the latter. “While talking of morality, the same rule should apply to him also,” Deb said.
“Secondly, on the nexus between persons with criminal background and politicians, Pradhan had said an accused is not guilty until proven guilty. Does the rule apply only when his name is dragged with a person having criminal background?” asked Deb.
Citing the recent appointment of Yeddyurappa as the BJP Karnataka State president, who was thrown out of the State government for alleged involvement in a mining scam and Maharashtra minister Pankaja Mude’s selfie in drought-hit areas and charges against her of involvement in Rs 601 crore scam, Deb stated, “Before throwing stones on others, the Union Minister should look into his closet.”
Deb added, “People of Odisha know about the chief minister’s morality in the last 16 years. Therefore, there is no need for a minister or a leader to give statements in the media to make people aware about the matter.”
Notably, after attending the annual function of the Students’ Union at Ravenshaw University yesterday, the Union minister had told media persons, “The Chief Minister, who has been saying that the law will take its own course, should answer on the recent talks about Das Burma’s links with chit-fund companies. While he (Naveen) is speaking of morality, why is he silent when his minister is getting caught?”