Bhubaneswar: Alleging a ‘secret nexus’ between BJD and Congress, Odisha BJP today lashed out at the ruling party and said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik must answer on the political affiliation of Sam Pitroda.
Talking to media persons, BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said even though Pitroda is an accomplice in the National Herald property grabbing case, he enjoys the status of a cabinet rank minister as technical advisor to Odisha government and now Congress has appointed him chairman of its Overseas Congress Department.
Pitroda acts as a bridge of link between BJD and Congress. BJP's earlier allegation that there exists a ‘nexus’ between the BJD and Congress has now been vindicated, said Sharma.
The people of Odisha have always suffered due to such alliances between the ruling party and the opposition. BJP would further intensify its agitation till the removal of Pitroda, he said.
“It is wrong to say that the ruling BJD is maintaining equal distance from both Congress and BJP. We can claim that Naveen babu has been maintaining zero distance with Congress and Sonia Gandhi," Sharma added.
While sources said the Naveen government is mulling over scrapping Pitroda’s cabinet rank, BJD spokesperson Amar Prasad Sathpathy said Pitroda is a respected person with wide experience in telecom engineering and should not be measured in political parameters.
Meanwhile, Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati said that the people in BJP should welcome Sam Pitroda that the state is getting the service of such a "great" technocrat.
“BJP can also give Pitroda some responsibilities,” Bahinipati added.