ROURKELA: Union Tribal Affairs Minister and Sundargarh MP Jual Oram on Saturday acknowledged that youth BJP leader Prakash Paswan was his aide and must face action, if found guilty.
Paswan, 35, was recently suspended from the party for his alleged involvement in the controversy surrounding rooms allotted to two criminals in the Rourkela Circuit House.
In a post on X, Jual said, “Prakash Paswan is an active worker of mine and my representative to the Rourkela Municipal Corporation. If any allegation exists against him in the Circuit House case, then conduct a fair and transparent inquiry. If proven guilty, punish him as per law. I would not have any objection. Law must apply equally to everyone.”
Paswan, who was a Yuva Morcha leader of the BJP, is wanted by police for reportedly enabling armed criminals to use the Circuit House as a safe haven.
The Union minister further said he has been in electoral politics for 35 years with blessings of people from all religions and communities. “At this moment, creation of misleading information using my name through fake RTI facts needs to be investigated properly. If any individual or organisation deliberately spreads misinformation or propaganda against me, I will take appropriate legal action in accordance with the law.”
He said there would be opposition and criticism in politics. But fake, disinformation and conspiracy would not be tolerated.
In another post on X headlined ‘clear and strict warning’, Jual said, “It is clarified to everyone that Khusboo Yadav is my district representative. She is neither my APS (assistant private secretary) nor a member of my official staff. She has been working with me for a long time, assisting me with my public affairs and constituency-related matters. In this capacity, she attends government meetings and programmes related to my work.”
The minister made it clear that he wished to make her his APS, but it could not materialise for some reasons. “However, this does not affect her current role as my district representative in any manner.”
He said Yadav is not just his representative but also a public figure in her own right with her own distinct identity and public support. Those attempting to tarnish her honour and reputation by distorting facts, misrepresenting her designation, and falsely projecting her as ‘fake’ must remember that such defamatory and motivated propaganda will not be tolerated under any cost.
Every individual involved in creating, publishing, or spreading false and defamatory information will face appropriate action in accordance with the law, he warned.