BHUBANESWAR: Even as the BJD on Saturday warned party leaders of action for flouting the gag order of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, BJP levelled fresh charges against Minister of State for Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Sanjay Dasburma over his alleged links with scam tainted chit fund companies.
Since the Chief Minister has advised all party members including Ministers, MPs and MLAs not to make statements going against the interest of the party, all should abide by this, party spokesperson Sameer Dash said. “Any violation will be taken seriously and attract disciplinary action from the party president,” he said.
Dash said the Chief Minister has always taken action against those defying him and this time there will be no exception. The warning from the party spokesperson before Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik left on a five-day visit for New Delhi on Saturday has given rise to speculation in political circles.
After the Chief Minister’s advice to Ministers and party leaders on Tuesday to refrain from making statements on party matters without consultation, two senior leaders - Excise Minister Damodar Rout and party’s Jagatsinghpur district president Bisnu Das - flouted the directive by commenting on internal party affairs and Dasburma issue.
Referring to his own resignation from the Cabinet in May, 2006 over the marksheet scandal involving his son, Das had questioned the continuance of Dasburma in the Ministry. Rout had targeted party spokeperson Sashi Bhusan Behera for making a statement on the Chief Minister’s gag order.
Rout, however, said there is scope for taking disciplinary action against him. “But sufficient grounds are there to take action against those who are spreading these things,” he said.
Meanwhile, BJP stepped up its campaign against Dasburma by asking how could he amass property worth crores of rupees within such a short period. Party vice-president Sameer Das on Saturday alleged that Dasburma has floated 12 companies which is owned by his family members and relatives.