BHUBANESWAR: With the BJD and BJP trading barbs over the seizure of `40 lakh from a car near Mahulapali in Bargarh district on Saturday and the ruling party accusing the involvement of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday dared the State Government to hand over the case to Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department.“I dare the Bargarh SP to hand over the case to Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department without delay,” Pradhan told reporters here.
Countering the charges of senior BJD leader Prasanna Acharya that the cash seized by the police belongs to BJP and VHP, Pradhan said he strongly suspects the hand of the former in the case. Acharya’s link with the RSS is known to all and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is well aware of it. Half a dozen BJD leaders were members of the RSS in the past, he added.
The Union Minister alleged that the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of Padampur Laxminarayan Panda is working for the ruling party and should be immediately shifted.Earlier, the BJD had alleged that the two persons arrested in the case are activists of VHP and Bajarang Dal.Responding to a query on the alleged suicide by a farmer of Nuapalli village under Gaisilet block of Bargarh district, Pradhan said this proved the failure of State Government in protecting the interest of farmers.