Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 24:

Targeting ruling party in Odisha, BJP today leveled serious allegation against two BJD leaders in missing of freedom fighter Laxmi Indira Panda's grandson Babula Panda, who is still untraceable following felicitation ceremony in Bhubaneswar.

BJP legislator Pradeep Purohit alleged BJD leaders Rabi Narayan Nanda and Minister Pranab Prakash Das of abducting Babula.

Hitting at two leaders he said, "When BJD thought that BJP will take all the credit in the programme, the ruling party conspired against BJP. Even most of the newspapers carried the news asking the whereabouts of Babula. Openly I am saying that Koraput's BJD leader Rabi Narayan Nanda and Minister Pranab Prakash Das are behind the abduction of Babula".

He demanded to verify the call records of two leaders.

Reacting to allegation, BJD spokesperson Surjya Narayan Patro asked the BJP to bring allegation if they have evidence.

"If the BJP has specific allegation, they can expose it. It is not a small thing. It is a serious matter, whoever he may be," Patro said.

"Will Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign from ministry if allegation was proved false?” he asked.

Notably, Babula Panda, grandson of Laxmi Indira Panda and son of Surendra Panda and Sujata Panda, went missing after being separated from parents at Bhubaneswar railway station. The family was invited for attending the felicitation programme at Raj Bhawan on April 16. The family was separated from each other at the railway station following receiving honour from Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the descendants of freedom fighter Laxmi Indira Panda. The parents on Friday had staged a dharna in front of Koraput Sub-collector residence urging the district administration for safe return of missing son.