Bhubaneswar: A day after his dismissal from Congress, former Union Minister Srikant Jena today spewed venom against Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Niranjan Patnaik by calling him a ‘habitual bribe giver’. While addressing a presser, Jena also targeted AICC president Rahul Gandhi and announced that he will make a big expose during the latter’s Odisha visit on January 25.
The former Congress leader Srikant Jena also alleged that both Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and AICC president Rahul Gandhi have forged a grand alliance or ‘Mahagathbandhan’ with mining mafia.
“I cannot imagine that the party of Gandhi, Nehru and Gopabandhu Das can have a State president with such dubious distinctions. PCC chief Niranjan Patnaik has on record filed an affidavit in Orissa High Court (in a case dating back to 1985) that he used to give bribe to a mining officer for his mining business. In fact, the High Court indicted him as a bribe giver,” said Jena.
Rahul Gandhi surrendered before the alliance between Congress, BJD and mining mafia.
“I will reach out to people and launch a campaign against illegal mining and corruption. I will expose how the Patnaik families have ruined Odisha through illegal mining in last 40 years. Rahul Gandhi is coming to Odisha on January 25 and will make a startling revelation following which he cannot show his face to people,” Jena added.
Responding to Jena’s allegations, PCC chief Niranjan Patnaik said, “He (Jena) has has only listened what High Court said but hasn’t heard but is ignorant about what Supreme Court said.”
BJP vice-president Samir Mohanty on the other hand stated that after Srikant Jena’s dismissal it has now been proved that Congress is being run by mining mafia. Similarly, there is a secret deal between Odisha Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and mining mafia. The mining mafia also has links with a third-floor officer.
BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb alleged that there is no consistency in statements of Srikant Jena as he had earlier claimed that BJD was B-team of BJP.
“After his suspension from Congress, Srikant Jena now claims that there is a nexus between BJD and Congress. There is no consistency in the statements of Srikant Jena as he changes stand every six months,” said Deb.
Reacting to Srikant Jena’s statements, BJD MP Soumya Ranjan Patnaik said, “I do not want to comment on such baseless allegations levelled by Srikant Jena to fuel further discussion or speculation. I also advise BJP leaders to investigate if I have any nexus with mining mafia or done any corruption instead of dragging and accusing Patnaik family.”