BJP to launch protest against liquor scam, black money across Odisha from tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: With simultaneous raids by Income Tax (I-T) sleuths on different locations linked to liquor traders in Odisha districts coming to an end after five days, BJP today warned to agitate in front of all subdivision offices across the State against the huge amount of ‘black money’ seized so far.

“BJD Government is a haven for illegal liquor trade in Odisha. ‘Sahu Brothers & Company’ has amassed ill-gotten money of around Rs 500 crore with active support of the ruling party. The State has been demeaned in the country for the corruption-based governance of BJD. The people of Odisha are now stunned by the ‘black money’ unearthed following I-T raids and perturbed over the illegal liquor trade of Jharkhand Congress MP with the support of BJD,” BJP state unit president Manmohan Samal said.

“Biju Janata Dal has been providing ‘abhay surakshya’ to liquor traders over the years in Odisha. The faulty liquor policy of the BJD Government is mainly responsible for the growth of the illegal business empire. Can anyone ever accumulate such a huge amount of cash of around Rs 500 crore without any active support of the State government?” the saffron camp Head questioned.

“Keeping aside the interests of the people of Odisha, BJD is supporting the liquor trade and has given rise to a ‘liquor flood’ in the State by adopting unfair means. The party has shown undue favour to such liquor traders in Odisha and has been fighting elections with their ill-gotten money,” Samal alleged.