Continuing his attack on Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma, senior Congress leader lalatendu Bidyadhar (lulu) Moahapatra on Sunday again targeted the Minister for his alleged involvement in the chit fund scam.
He even charged that the chit fund business was patronised by ruling BJD leaders, including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Showing a photograph of Dasburma sitting with a chit fund scam accused, who is now lodged at the Jharpada Special Jail, Mohapatra said the picture was taken on the day when the Election Commission raided the Puri-based Holiday Resorts hotel just a few days before the 2014 general elections.
“Who is this in the photographIJ Where was the photograph takenIJ Of the two in the photograph, one is now lodged at the jail and another (Dasburma) is hiding in house. Both of them were running that particular chit fund company. If the BJD youth wing’s president (Dasburma) who has looted 20 lakh families, and its members who had lodged complaint against me before the State DGP has the courage, should answer my charges,” asked Mohapatra.
He also alleged that the chit fund companies have heavily funded the BJD in the 2014 elections and party supremo and CM Naveen Patnaik was aware of the illegality.
Reacting over the allegations, BJD spokesperson Amar Prasad Satpathy said lulu is levelling allegations without any substantial evidence. He said the Congress leader is only trying to be in limelight by making such baseless allegations.
“Photographs serve no purpose. Substantial evidences are needed to hold somebody guilty. If he has proofs then why has he taken two years (to produce that),” questioned Satpathy.