Former Minister and senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik condemned BJD’s threat to take to the streets against the CBI investigation into the multi-crore chit fund scam in the State.
“When Pravat Tripathy, Rama Chandra Hansdah, Subarna Naik and other BJD leaders were arrested by the CBI in connection with the chit fund scam, the Chief Minister had claimed that it was their private business, saying that neither the BJD nor the State Government had anything to do with it. But, no sooner did the CBI commence interrogating Saroj Sahu, a prominent member of Naveen’s kitchen cabinet, than the party did a volte face accusing that the investigation smacks of political vendetta. What accounts for the overnight change of stanceIJ What has made the BJD so edgy at the mere apprehension of an interrogation of people close to the Chief MinisterIJ “ he said.
Patnaik added that the CBI is investigating the chit fund cases under the direction of the Supreme Court. Any such threat to the CBI is undue pressure and a clear violation of the solemn commitment given by the State Government to fully cooperate with the investigating agency.
“If the BJD politicises the investigation to save own leaders and takes to the streets, the Congress, which has avoided any such political tactic, will respond in a befitting manner by launching street protests all over the State demanding immediate arrest of all persons accused in the scam. The BJD is trying to blackmail the CBI to protect its high and mighty. I hope the CBI does not come under pressure and people of Odisha will reject such interference in the legal process,” Patnaik said.
“The Congress Party may also consider taking up the matter appropriately before the Supreme Court since the investigation is court monitored and its is the abundant duty of the apex court to insulate the C.B.I. from all such extraneous pressures and interference.”
Never before in the history of Odisha has a serving Chief Minister come under the cloud of CBI investigation except Patnaik. But, if CBI is now knocking at the doors of Naveen Niwas, the Chief Minister should take the moral high ground and resign to make way for his party to elect a new leader till the doubts over his roles are cleared, he suggested.