Senior BJP leader and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram has spoken what is generally believed as the truth that the CBI’s investigations into the mining and chit fund scams in Odisha have slowed down due to a secret deal between the Central Government leadership and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Oram told media here that the Patnaik-led BJD Government would have fallen by now if the investigations into the two major scams had been carried out in full vigour.
“The Central Government has let them (the State Government) off in many issues including chit fund and mining. Had it not been the case, the CBI would have finished them off already. They (the State Government) should thank (the Centre) for it,” said Oram.
Though Oram, due to obvious repercussions of his statement in the Union Government of which he is a part, shortly later sought to water down his remarks, he, according to political observers, has let the cat out of the bag.
Oram now says that he was actually referring to “the public perception” that the CBI probes into the scams have been impeded (due to the Modi Government’s interference).
leader of Opposition of the Congress in the State Assembly Narasingha Mishra said what he has been maintaining since long about the slowdown of the CBI investigations has now been corroborated by a Cabinet Minister of the NDA Government.
Mishra reiterated that there is a quid pro quo pact between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to save each other politically.
While Patnaik wants to escape from a CBI noose, Modi needs the Patnaik-led BJD’s support in the Rajya Sabha, where the NDA’s strength is vulnerable, on various issues.
People of Odisha should realise how Patnaik is hoodwinking them by claiming his Government to be clean and corruption-free, said Mishra.