BJP slams BJD MLAs over work order allotment to party man with criminal antecedent

Kendrapara: Pointing fingers towards BJD legislators Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and Kishore Tarai for helping former chairperson of BJD minority cell Mir Muzib Baksh in getting a transportation contract, BJP district unit questioned how a person against whom criminal cases are pending can get government work orders.

BJP Kendrapara district president Duryodhana Sahu, said, “As many criminal cases are pending against Baksh and while he is on bail, how come work contracts can be allotted to him. Without recommendations from the local BJD MLAs, this cannot happen.”

Baksh, who is considered to be a close confidante of Atanu Sabyasachi Naik and Kishore Tarai, had got the transportation contract and transported rice and wheat in June, July and August, reports said.

Despite the mention in an affidavit filed before the district officials that he would transport rice and wheat in a truck with registration number OD29A7886, he transported the items in a tipper vehicle, the reports added.

He was a Label 2- HAND T category contract. However, the kind of contract allotted to him has raised eyebrows.

Case pertaining to rice supply irregularities in Bhadrak is also pending against Baksh.

Ramnath Sahu, CSO, Kendrapara, said, “We have not got any official updates till now. Besides, in the affidavit he didn’t mention about the pending criminal case. Therefore, the work order was given to him.”

On the other hand, Baksh has withdrawn from the contract on health grounds after the irregularities came to fore.