Even as several BJD leaders have been netted by the CBI in the chit fund scam, the Congress and the BJP have questioned the silence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on
the issue. Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Jayadev Jena said, “The CBI has quizzed some senior BJD leaders for their alleged involvement in the chit fund scam. But till now, the Chief Minister has not uttered a word.”
Besides, media reports have exposed that the advisor of chit fund company AT Group Ranjan Das is a BJD member and was closely associated with the party’s heavyweights. “The CM must clarify about Das and the BJD’s relationship with him,” Jena demanded. BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said, “The silence of the CM speaks a lot. Naveen Patnaik’s silence shows that he is shielding his party leaders. But the real face of the BJD supremo will be exposed soon.” He added that the Chief Minister cannot deny his knowledge about Ranjan Das, who was a proposer to elect him as BJD president.
The BJD, however, rejected the allegations. “The Chief Minister is aware of the issue. Ranjan is not a front bench member of the BJD. He could have been there as a friend of Pravat Tripathy, the returning officer for the election,” said BJD spokesperson Sameer Das.
BJD MP Kalikesh Singh Deo said, “In politics, we come across a variety of people. With regard to the chit fund issue and land issue raised by the opposition, they are being investigated by different agencies like the CBI and the Crime Branch. We should wait for the outcome of the investigation. The law will take its own course. The CM always promotes transparency in the Government and he is going to spare no one.”