The Congress on Wednesday alleged that E and IT and Sports and Youth Services Minister Tusharkanti Behera intimidated the Kakatpur Mangala College Principal and sought his ouster from the Ministry.
Addressing a Press conference, PCC spokesperson Nishikant Mishra said Astaranga block Chairman Swadhin Nayak had been putting pressure on Principal Kalicharan Patnaik to give a job to a woman in the college. On August 26, 2020, Minister Behera asked the Principal to meet the block Chairman. Accordingly, the Principal met Nayak. During the meeting, Nayak forced the Principal to give a job to the girl and threatened him of dire consequences if his request is not executed.
As the Principal said he has only four months in service and refused to do the illegal work, Nayak threatened to stop his pension post retirement.Later, Patnaik filed a complaint at the Kakatpur police station.
“A few years ago, Rayagada district’s Tikiri Primary School teacher Itishree Pradhan had brought such allegations. As ruling party leaders were involved, the teacher had to lose her life. The Kakatpur College Principal has brought equal allegations. A Minister and a block Chairman are involved. Thus, the Government should conduct an impartial probe and oust the Minister till completion of the probe,” demanded Mihsra.
Among others, Puri DCC president Amiya Kumar Patnaik and Kakatpur Assembly constituency candidate Bishwabhushan Das and Naresh Mohanty were present.