BHUBANESWAR: Excise minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Thursday announced a Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) probe into the Chikiti hooch tragedy even as the Opposition BJD and Congress disrupted proceedings of the Assembly demanding his resignation.
The minister told mediapersons that the RDC will submit its inquiry report within two months. “The probe will be initiated in a day or two. A formal notification in this regard will be issued by government soon. The state government will strongly crackdown on illicit liquor trade,” he said.
Harichandan said raids are being conducted throughout the state. “Around 217 illicit liquor kilns have been identified and will be demolished. As many as 117 persons have already been arrested in connection with spurious liquor trade. The government is committed to ensure there is no illicit liquor production or trade in the state,” he said.
Harichandan said that while the Berhampur excise superintendent Pradeep Panigrahy has been transferred, excise inspector Ramesh Chandra Mohanty and sub-inspector Prasanna Kumar Dhali have been placed under suspension.
Harichandan on Thursday visited the MKCG hospital and met the victims.
However, BJD MLAs staged a dharna near the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Assembly premises demanding the resignation of the minister. “The government does not seem to be serious and there is lack of accountability. The minister should take moral responsibility for the tragedy and resign till the RDC probe is over,” Opposition chief whip Pramila Mallick said.
Mallick said it has been four days since the tragedy took place and the minister visited the area only on Thursday after the Opposition raised the demand. The government is now trying to suppress the matter by suspending some officials, she said and added that the BJD will continue to raise the demand till the minister resigns.
“The BJP had promised Nisha Mukt Odisha in its manifesto but on the contrary is promoting illicit liquor. During the Naveen Patnaik government, BJD ministers including Kalindi Behera and AU Singhdeo had resigned following hooch deaths,” she said.
The BJD and Congress members trooped into the well as soon as the day’s proceedings began forcing Speaker Surama Padhy to adjourn the House first till 11.30 am and then 4 pm. The afternoon session also witnessed noisy scenes over the demand for the Excise minister’s resignation. Both BJD and Congress members walked out from the House during discussion on the budget of the Revenue and Disaster Management department.
Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati alleged that BJD and BJP are hand in glove in spurious liquor trade. BJP member Manoranjan Dyan Samantara alleged BJD leaders are involved in spurious liquor trade in Ganjam district.