Sting operation on BJD MLAs: Centre writes to Assembly Speaker for action

Bhubaneswar: The Centre today wrote to the Odisha Assembly Speaker demanding action against the four BJD MLAs caught in a sting operation earlier in August last year.

The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has written the letter to the speaker asking him to ensure action against the four erring MLAs.

On the other hand, ruling BJD has shown disappointment over Centre's letter. “The letter is illogical and was not necessary. It is beyond the general code of law and is inappropriate. There may be some political agenda behind the Centre’s demands,” BJD Spokesperson Amar Satpathy, said.

Countering the ruling party’s views on the issue BJP leaders said the demands for disciplinary action against the four MLAs has not been paid attention and vigilance probe order from the Chief Minister has not been implemented. After the Chief Minister, Speaker is the second highest person in an Assembly. "So we have sought his intervention into the issue. The sting operation on the four MLAs is an epitome of how the ruling party is all messed up in accepting PCs," said a senior BJP leader.

Last year a news channel had shown four BJD MLAs including Chhendipada MLA Sushant Behera, Hindol MLA Seemarani Nayak,  Karanjia MLA Bijay Kumar Nayak and Bhawanipatna MLA Anam Nayak demanding kickbacks worth Rs 5 crore to Rs 40 crore from an undercover person posing as an industrialist for facilitating setting up of industries in their constituencies.

Following the revelation, Chief Minisiter Naveen Patnaik had ordered a vigilance probe into the matter.