The BJP on Monday demanded that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik make a statement in the State Assembly over media reports that a member of the State Council of Ministers and a former Minister had close links with Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, BJP legislature Party leader Basant Panda said that as per the reports a present Minister and a former Minister had close relation with Sabyasaachi Panda for a long time as was revealed during the quizzing of Panda by the police in Brahmapur on Sunday.
The BJP leader quoted the report that the former Minister was also providing the Maoist leader all sorts of assistance, including funds regularly. An incumbent Minister also had close link with the Maoist leader.
The BJP leader demanded that the Chief Minister disclose the names of the former and present Ministers. He also urged Speaker Niranjan Pujari to direct the Chief Minister to make a statement on the issue.
Meanwhile, the Judicial Commission headed by Justice AS Naidu constituted by the State Government to probe into the killing of Swami laxmanananda Saraswati has decided to interrogate Sabyasachi as the Maoist leader had earlier confessed his involvement in the ghastly crime. PNS