Bhubaneswar: Scams, corruption and irregularities continue to haunt the ruling BJD despite the State government’s desperate bid to ward off Opposition attack on these issues. While both Congress and BJP demanded the resignation of Food and Supplies minister Sanjay Dasburma in connection with two Pajero SUVs owned by him on Saturday, all eyes are now on the next move of the CBI, which has already sought the documents of the vehicles in question.
Odisha Pradesh Committee (OPCC) chief Prasad Harichandan said the minister should tender his resignation on moral grounds.
Speaking to media persons in Bolangir, Harichandan said, “The CBI should ask him to appear personally and start investigation into all the allegations leveled against him.”
“Submission of documents through a representative wouldn’t do. Since the entire state wants to know the truth, the minister himself should appear before the investigating agency, if he has anything to say,” Harichandan added reiterating the demand for the minister’s resignation.
The state Congress chief, who was in Balangir to attend a programme, said Dasburma has no moral right to continue as people’s representative and as a minister.
Meanwhile the BJP, which has been demanding the resignation of the minister since the matter came to light, said Dasburma should not continue in the post any longer.
“The CBI must interrogate him (Sanjay) physically to verify the vehicles’ documents. We hope that it will move in the right direction. He must resign from his post on moral grounds,” party general secretary Prithwiraj Harichandan said.
At a time when the heat generated by the CBI summons to the minister pertaining to the documents of the vehicles owned by him or his family members refuses to die down, BJD vice-president and Excise minister Damodar Rout’s veiled attack on the minister has further embarrassed the ruling party.
“From the recent events, it seems that the CBI has got some clues in the whole episode. Those who don’t maintain transparency in their political careers, must withdraw from politics,” said the irrepressible BJD leader on Saturday without naming Dasburma but leaving no one in doubt about who he was hinting at.
Now, that the central agency has already received the documents from the minister on his vehicles and is examining them, it remains to be seen whether it will interrogate him in the matter.