BHUBANESWAR: Despite the gag order from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on BJD leaders, problems seem to be mounting for Minister of State for Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Sanjay Dasburma with another senior leader and former minister Bisnu Das raising questions on his continuation in the Ministry.
Referring to his resignation from the Ministry in August, 2007 when he was School and Mass Education Minister over a controversy on increase of marks secured by his son in HSC examination, Das said he resigned on moral grounds after such an allegation.
Asked whether Dasburma should resign on moral grounds for his alleged links with chit fund scam tainted company Artha Tatwa Group, Das, however, said, “It is for the Minister (Dasburma) to decide.”
The Chief Minister had asked all Ministers and party leaders on Tuesday to refrain from giving statements which had a negative impact on the party’s image.
He had advised Ministers to give opinion on matters relating to their departments and refrain from making any statement on party matters in public.
Meanwhile, the BJD has strongly reacted to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s statement questioning the silence of the Chief Minister on Dasburma issue.
Replying to questions from mediapersons after attending the annual function of Ravenshaw University on Wednesday at Cuttack, the Union Minister had said, “Why is the Chief Minister, who always says the law will take its own course, is silent on Dasburma issue? The CM who always talks about morality is now silent when one of his Ministers is allegedly involved.”
BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb retaliated by raising the issue of Vyapam scam and his alleged links with the Dhal Samanta brothers. “Before asking the Chief Minister about moral responsibility, the Union Minister should look at himself,” Deb said.