Charging that all leaders in the ruling BJD are knee-deep in corruption, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Prasad Harichandanon Friday lashed out at Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for his mysterious silence in the issues of graft.
“No leaders in the BJD, even its president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, have morality. It is evident from the CBI’s interrogation of Saroj, a close aide of Patnaik working at his residence in connection with the chit fund scam and also from the frequent revelations of his other party men being involved in several illegal affairs,” said the PCC chief.
Reiterating his allegations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has influenced the CBI probe into the chit fund scam, Harichandan said a deal has been stuck between Modi and Patnaik, for which the CBI has slowed down its investigation process ever since Saroj was interrogated.
“BJD leaders don’t have any ethics and morality. Why the Chief Minister is silent on the matter involving (Minister) Dasburma and also when links of his party leaders in several corrupt practices and chit fund companies have come to fore,” argued Harichandan.
Senior BJP leader Pratap Sarangi also questioned the CBI probe process, saying common people now have a perception that the pace of CBI probe has slowed down.
“People have a negative view in the CBI probe in the multi-crore chit fund scam,” said Sarangi.
Interestingly, the statement of Sarangi on the CBI probe has left the saffron party embarrassed in view of party State president Basanta Panda’s recent claim that the Central investigation agency is doing its job properly.
Sarangi also targeted the CM and the BJD, saying that neither the party nor its supremo has morality or follows ethics.