BHUBANESWAR: A day after CBI probe was ordered into the sinking of the MV Black Rose vessel off the Paradip coast nine years back, the entire issue has assumed political colour. The BJP has launched an all out attack on the BJD even as an impression is gaining ground that the BJP-led Central Government is trying to get back at some state ruling party leaders by unleashing the central investigating agency.
The target is former minister and BJD MLA from Jajpur who reportedly wields immense clout in the party because of his closeness to the third floor (the Chief Minister’s office in the State Secretariat). The Opposition allegation is that the Black Rose, which had forged document, was used to bring iron ore for sponge iron plants of some BJD leaders.
Sensing an opportunity to embarrass the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, opposition political parties BJP and Congress have started criticising him for shielding the culprits who are close to him. BJP spokesperson Samir Mohanty said, close links of the brother of former minister and current Jajpur MLA with the incident had come to the fore in media several times. He alleged the Jajpur MLA’s brother was the owner of the company for which iron ore was being transported in the Black Rose vessel.
The very person was seen driving the battery-driven vehicle with the Chief Minister as the passenger during a function to mark 100 years of Jajpur Municipality recently, Mohanty said. Congress leader Ashok Samal also targeted the Chief Minister over the issue and alleged that when Black Rose sank nine years ago, the involvement of a BJD leader was alleged in several media reports and later Crime Branch was handed over the probe. However, the Crime Branch is silent on the issue, he said. “It’s surprising that the investigative agency is yet to trace the people involved. We hope that the CBI will bring out the truth,” Samal said.
Meanwhile, former minister and BJD MLA from Paradip Damodar Rout added a twist to the issue and proclaimed, “If CBI asks, I will reveal whatever I know.”The BJD, however, strongly refuted the allegations saying it has become a tendency of the BJP to drag the ruling party into every issue. “Crime Branch was investigating the matter and the case is sub-judice,” Rajya Sabha member and BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said adding that the Shipping Ministry has written for CBI investigation.
He said Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan had also written a letter to the Shipping Minister to recommend CBI probe into the incident. “It remains to be seen whether there will be an investigation or it’s just an eyewash and politically motivated step,” he said.MV Black Rose sank five kms off Paradip port on September 9, 2009, due to unknown reasons. It is alleged that the vessel was engaged in the illegal transportation of iron-ore and other minerals by forging documents.
PPT yet to get the letter
Paradip: Chairman of Paradip Port Trust (PPT) Rinkesh Ray said they had not yet received any information from the Union Ministry of Shipping about the CBI probe into Black Rose case. PPT had submitted a detailed status report of court cases to the Ministry.
PPT Trustee Pratap Mishra, who had sought the intervention of PPT to recommend his representation to the Union Ministry for CBI probe, said, “I appreciate the Centre’s decision for recommending CBI probe which would open Pandora’s box. Several high-profile personalities including the ruling party leaders of Jajpur district would be exposed.”