Bhubaneswar: Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and Lok Sabha MP Tathagat Satapathy again made an explosive remark on the sidelines of a programme in Dhenkanal on Wednesday, saying leaders of the Congress are thieves and the BJP is also competing with them.
Satapathy did not spare his own party either while attacking the Opposition and said, “The BJD is also no less.”
Addressing a meeting organised at Pousa Mahotsav at Jhadabandha in Hindol, the BJD MP said, “The Congress men are thieves and the BJP partymen are competing with them. We are also no less.”
He said recently Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik removed four to five thieves mentioning BJD vice-president and former minister Debi Prasad Mishra.
In reaction, Mishra refused to give any comment on the matter and said he is outside the state and not aware of Tathagat’s speech and will comment after returning to Odisha.
On the other hand, BJD Spokesperson Prashant Nanda said, “MP Tathagat’s remarks are personal. Those who have quit the Cabinet have got important responsibility of the party.”
Reacting to Tathagat’s statement, Congress leader and Opposition Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati said, “Congress has brought independence. It is not a party of thieves. Even Tathagat’s mother was the Chief Minister of Odisha from the Congress.”