Narasingha questions Odisha ruling party’s links with Birla

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 6: 

The controversy surrounding Leader of Opposition (LOP) Narasingha Mishra’s questions to Odisha Chief Minister pertaining to BJD accounts today took a new turn as the ruling party explained the sources of its funding outside the Assembly.

A disgruntled Mishra, however, shot another barrage of questions to the Biju Janata Dal and questioned its links with Birla Group.

“Today, you confessed that you received funding from Aditya Birla group. Perhaps, you were ashamed to say this before and now accepting it out of compulsion. I am not disputing that your accounts have not been audited. But, my question is, did you get this money in lieu of recommending a coal block for Birla even after the Central Government’s denial?  Are you ready to face a probe over this,” questioned Mishra.

He once again targeted Biju Janata Dal over its chit fund connections.

“The Leader of Opposition never said that BJD received the Rs 8 crore from chit fund companies. It was a separate question. My question was: is the PC Padhi, who deposited cash for BJD, the same one with chit fund connections? They could have said no. However, they took six hours to answer it and managed to find a PC Padhi in Naveen Nivas. It proves that Naveen Patnaik, his government and his associates are linked to the chit fund scam some-way or the other,” he added.

BJD, on the other hand replied to the allegations.

“Not only BJD, but also BJP and Mishra’s own party Congress received funds from donors. Congress has received funds to the tune of Rs 100 crore. Can he explain, what recommendations his party made? So far as investigation is concerned, we would welcome it,” shot back BJD Spokesperson and Nimapara MLA Samir Dash.