Narasingha asks Naveen to clarify Rs. 8 crore donation from GET of Birlas

06 May, Bhubaneswar

Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly Narasingha Mishra Friday asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to clarify the Rs 8 crore cheque received by the Biju Janata Dal from the General Electoral Trust of Birlas.

The Congress leader sought to know whether the Rs 8 crore cheque given to BJD through the General Electroral Trust of the Birlas was for getting the state government’s recommendation of coal block in its favour. Mishra said the state government had recommended the union government to allocate a coal block in favour of the Aditya Birla Group after the application of the company to get the coal block was rejected by the Centre.

The Congress leader also alleged that some of the leaders of the ruling BJD have links with the multi crore chit fund scam and demanded that the CBI should inquire into the nexus of the BJD leaders with the chit fund companies.

He also sought a reply from the Chief Minister on the deposit of Rs 35 lakh in the SBI account of the BJD by one P C Padhi before the 2014 general election.

Mishra has caused much embarrassment to the ruling BJD by stating in the Assembly that one Padhi had deposited huge amount in one account in the SBI Main branch and asked the Chief Minister to clarify whether the said account belonged to the Biju Janata Dal or not and the person who had deposited the money had any link with the chit fund accused.

Law Minister Arun Sahu in response to the allegation of Mr Mishra stated that the account belonged to the BJD but denied that Mr Padhi had any link with the chit fund scam. He clarified that Mr.Padhi is a party worker and has been entrusted with the deposit of collection of the party fund in the bank. BM