BHUBANESWAR: A day after Babula Panda, grandson of INA veteran Lakshmi Indira Panda was traced, the BJP demanded a probe into his disappearance and reappearance by alleging that the ruling BJD leaders had a role behind the entire incident.
Stating that BJP suspects the role of former minister and BJD spokesman Rabi Nanda and Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das behind it, BJP State unit vice-president Samir Mohanty demanded that call records of both Nanda and Das should be verified to ascertain the truth.
Mohanty alleged that because of a feeling of insecurity, the BJD had played a role in the disappearance of Babula and blamed BJP for the incident. “Since they (BJD) had not honoured any freedom fighters’ families during their 17-year rule, the BJD tried to give a bad name to BJP by engineering Babula’s disappearance,” he said.
On the other hand, Ama Odisha president SR Patnaik suspected involvement of political parties in Babula’s disappearance. “With so many twists and turns, the incident is no less than high voltage drama and I suspect the involvement of political parties in it,” he said.
Stating that he will produce a theatre play on Babula incident, Patnaik said it will be a hit. Meanwhile, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central Division) AB Ota, accompanied by Cuttack District Magistrate and Collector Nirmal Mishra, visited Babula at SCB Medical College and Hospital to inquire about his health. Babula, who was being treated at a private hospital here, was shifted to SCB on Thursday night.
“The health condition of Babula is not critical. He is improving and talking like a normal person. A team of doctors is attending to the freedom fighter’s grandson,” Ota told mediapersons.
Babula was missing since April 16 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated his parents at the Raj Bhavan here. He had accompanied them and the family was separated at Bhubaneswar Railway Station during their return to Jeypore in Koraput district. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced free treatment for Babula.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan met family members of Babula. Expressing his happiness that Babula has been traced, Pradhan tweeted that he assured his family members that he will do whatever is necessary for his treatment. However, a BJP team led by former minister Sameer Dey was not allowed to meet Babula at SCB for security reasons.