CBI team visits Sandeshkhali
A 10-member team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) visited Sandeshkhali in North 24-Praganas district on Saturday again to probe alleged crimes against women and cases of land-grabbing in the island.
Union Petroleum natural gas, skill development Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan dared Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to answer as to whether he sacked Damodar Rout from the ministry because a scam unearthed by him had its roots in the CMO, why no action was taken on officers involved in the pulses scam while another minister had been sacrificed and why does he jump to protect officers more than his ministerial colleagues.
The chief minister had recently said “when they (opponents) have no issue, they target the CMO”. Reacting to this sharply, Pradhan said on Saturday, Damodar Rout was sacked from the cabinet when he found a scam in the soil conservation department that led to the CMO, isnt this an issue to be raised, quipped the Union Minister.
Pradhan reeled out several issues ~ one person in the CM’s residential office was grilled by the CBI in connection with the chit fund scam; the Odisha government had served notices amounting to Rs 60,000 crore against mine owners but ended up collecting a meagre Rs 8000 crore , the pulses scam led to sacking of a minister, but not a single officer was punished.
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There are innumerable such instances and people are bound to question the CMO, officers and the CM, he said. Why does the CM jump to the defence a non-Odia officer in the CMO whenever anybody raises a voice against the officer, remarked Pradhan Before receiving the Ideal CM Award at Pune Mr Patnaik should explain to the people of Odisha on all the above mentioned grave issues and scams, said Pradhan.
It is pertinent to note that over the last one week BJD MP Baijayanta Panda has been firing on all cylinders against the CMO and a “corrupt non- Odia” officer who, he alleged, has taken control ofthe party. The BJD spokesperson had promptly pointed out that Panda was echoing charges that are often voiced by Union Minister Pradhan.
Pradhan was addressing a meeting organised here to induct Odia cine artists Anu Choudury, Mihir Das, former MLA Ramaranjan Baliarsingh to the BJP fold.
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