BHUBANESWAR: Congress on Friday criticised Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for his silence on the alleged link of Minister of State for Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Sanjay Dasburma with chit fund scam-tainted company Artha Tatwa Group.
Alleging that the Chief Minister has struck a deal with the Centre, president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Prasad Harichandan said Naveen is protecting corrupt elements in his Ministry by refusing to act against them.
The BJP alleged that the Chief Minister has maintained silence because he is apprehensive of a rebellion in the party. Naveen is facing problems in controlling his party, senior BJP leader Pratap Sarangi said and added that because of growing differences in BJD over the issue, he has remained silent.
The BJD, however, strongly reacted to the Opposition allegations. Former minister and party spokesperson Pratap Deb asked whether Congress leaders have taken any step to solve the problems in their party. “Why is the OPCC president silent on the arrest of a former party MLA?” he asked.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader LB Mohapatra has targeted Dasburma by levelling fresh charges without naming him. Mohapatra alleged that `30 lakh has been transferred from a chit fund company to a construction company. He wanted to know the name of the owner of the company to which the money was transferred and the Minister who attended the inaugural function of the company.