BHUBANESWAR: As CBI and ED action against BJP’s political opponents in several states has sparked a strong reaction, a statement by Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs and Jalshakti Bisweshwar Tudu that Central agencies will conduct raids wherever there is corruption has triggered speculations here.
The statement of Tudu which came during the visit of seven Union Ministers on Saturday to review the implementation of welfare schemes launched by the Centre has assumed significance in view of the recent cases in West Bengal and Maharashtra.
“Wherever there is corruption, they (agencies) will conduct raids. The Central agencies will do their duties notwithstanding the political affiliation of the accused. They may be from the BJP, the BJD or Congress,” he said while addressing party workers at a meeting at Kaptipada in Mayurbhanj district on Saturday.
The ruling BJD immediately reacted to the statement made by Tudu. CBI investigation into the multi-hundred crore chit fund scam is still going on. Some BJD leaders were also arrested in the connection. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had in August raided some properties in the State in connection with a money laundering case against a mining company registered in Delhi.
“It is a threat. Such a statement from a Union Minister is quite uncalled for. It is not acceptable,” former Finance minister Sashi Bhusan Behera said. The statement of Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai that the benefits of Central schemes are not reaching the people due to the inept handling by the State government has also not gone down well with the ruling party. “Such type of inspector raj from Central ministers is not acceptable,” Behera said and added they should not indulge in politics.
Tudu’s statement has also received strong criticism from Congress.
“The BJP always indulges in such practice to threaten Opposition political parties. The Congress is well aware of this tactic as leaders of party-ruled states always face the heat,” president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Sarat Pattanayak said. He, however, said there will be no raids in Odisha where BJD and BJP have a tacit understanding.