Bhubaneswar: A day after Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati lambasted senior party leader Suresh Routray for his remarks on party legislators, Talsara MLA Prafulla Majhi and Sundargarh MLA Jogesh Singh today questioned Suresh aka Sura Routray on his rights and eligibility to make such statements.
Majhi said, “Who is Sura Routray? Is he a party vice president, secretary or spokesperson? Does he realise making such silly remarks only tarnish the image of Congress party?”
Cautioning Sura Routray, Majhi said, “The intra-party squabble has come down to a personal level and Routray should refrain from it.”
He further stated, “The current Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief is unable to carry out the responsibilities,” adding that the demands for change of guard in OPCC have been raised in the past and will continue to stay in coming days.
Expressing similar views, Jogesh Singh said, “Sura Routray is talking like a joker and he is least bothered how the party will be strengthened.”
“The most saddening thing is that he is making such childish remarks. As he is the father-in-law of the present PCC chief, such statements are causing more harm to the party,” Singh added.
Apprehending change of guard in the OPCC leadership and to save his son-in-law, Routray is passing such comments, Singh stated.
Further fuelling the spat within the party, Sura Routray today told mediapersons today, “If anyone tries to cause any harm to the OPCC chief, the person will be kidnapped from his/her house even if he/she is fast asleep. We will thrash the person mercilessly irrespective of the party he/she belongs to.”
Routray stated, “As per the directive of the PCC chief, I have been remaining silent since yesterday. Even if I am beaten up or scolded, I won’t utter a word.”
On the other hand, showering praise on Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra, Routray said, “He is a knowledgeable person. If he is given the Chief Minister post, everything will be alright in the State.”