Intensifying its attack on Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over sharing dais with dreaded criminal Sushil Dhalsamant, the BJD on Monday raised the issue of Pradhan’s alleged link with infamous Vyapam scam accused in Madhya Pradesh and also in the information leakage from his Ministry.
“Vyapam accused persons are booking tickets for in flight not for once, twice but thrice. Information was also being leaked from your Ministry. But you are pleading innocence,” charged BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb, advising Pradhan and his party to put their house in order before raising finger at others.
Deb further charged that “You (Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan) are saying that you do not know criminal Sushil Dhalsamanta. But you addressed him as your younger brother. Is it possible for a Union Minister to address a criminal as a younger brother without knowing him.”
Countering the charge of the ruling party BJP State unit president Basanta Panda questioned the Chief Minister’s silence over the interrogation of his close aide Saroj Sahoo by the CBI in connection with the chit fund scam.