Bhubaneswar: Hitting out at the Odisha Chief Minister and his office (CMO), Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today said that the office is not any party’s property, but a temple of trust for 4.5 crore Odias.
"Honourable Chief Minister had said that his office is being targeted when there are no other issues. It is not your party's property but a centre of trust for 4.5 crore Odia people," said Pradhan while addressing a gathering on the sidelines of BJP's 'Mishran Parva' in Bhubaneswar.
Terming the statement of CM as the sound of an empty vessel, the Petroleum Minister said that such sounds will no more be heard.
He said if anyone from his party raises finger at the CMO, they bear the brunt. "Dama Babu had said in Rayagada that the trail of corruption in Soil Conservation Department is spread till third floor which houses the CMO. That is the only reason for which he had to pay a heavy price," Pradhan said.
In reaction, BJD said Pradhan in his remarks is sounding more like a bureaucrat himself rather than a Union Cabinet Minister.