Arun Sahoo has no moral right to defend the govt, says Odisha BJP

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 5: 

A day after Law Minister Arun Sahoo defended his party inside the Assembly and out in the face if relentless opposition attack, Odisha unit of BJP today alleged that the minister has lost his moral right to defend the government as he himself appears to have benefited from the chit fund companies.

Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, BJP Vice President Samir Mohanty asked a series of questions and asked Sahoo to answer them.

“A function had been organised to confer Arun with ‘Youth Icon’ award on June 20, 2011. A lot of BJD leaders were present in the function. Besides, a huge amount of money had been spent to promote the event. Did AT, SLB and Seashore chit fund companies not fund that function? Does the presence of BJD leaders there not prove their relation with chit fund companies? Can Arun Sahu tell his conscience that the money didn’t come from chit fund companies,” questioned Mohanty.

“The presence of the then number-2 of Naveen cabinet Surya Patro, MLA Pravat Tripathy, Samir Dash, Ramesh Chandra Chyau Patnaik helped these organisations scale up their business. Why are these leaders trying to fool the people and act like saints,” he added.

Mohanty further said that Sahoo’s activities have been detrimental to his office and that he should step down.

While Minister Arun Sahoo promised to issue a statement over the issue in the evening, no response has been received from him so far.