Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Mar 17:

Odisha Congress sent show cause notice to its three MLAs for remarks against party and leadership.

The notices were sent to MLAs -- Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Prafulla Majhi and Ananta Sethy -- by Disciplinary Committee chairperson of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) asking them why the action will not be taken against them for statement against OPCC president Prasad Harichandan and State in-charge BK Hariprasad.

However, Bahinipati refuted the allegation of anti-party remarks.

"I have spoken the truth but not against the party. Neither have I done anything against the party nor will ever do. I do not know the head of the disciplinary committee, I have not received any notice. I will reply after getting the notice", he told media persons.

On the show cause notice, MLA Prafulla Majhi said that he spoke for betterment of the party.

"If my words will be taken otherwise, it can be dangerous for the party", he said.

He said that he did not know the intention of the party behind sending him notice.

"I do not know what party wants", Majhi said.

Talking to media persons, senior Congress leader Ananta Sethy said that he had not received any notice from the disciplinary committee till now. He dismissed the allegation saying that he had never made any statement against OPCC.

"I do not know anything about the notice. I just got information from a newspaper about the show cause notice. As far as I remember I have not made statement against party or PCC in media", he said.

When asked about the notice, he said that he did not know who OPCC disciplinary committee chairperson was.

"The disciplinary committee has no right to serve show cause notice to me. During my 35 years long political career and my position in AICC, I was never indulged in anti-party activities", he said adding, "I will reply after getting the notice".

On the other hand, Disciplinary Committee chairperson Sandhyarani Mohapatra said that the legislators should have written to the AICC before making statement against the OPCC in media.

"We have no right to speak against the party in media. They should have informed the AICC before talking to media against party leaders. The disciplinary action will be taken against those who will be indulged in anti-party activities. The notices have been served to three MLAs asking them to reply to the party and committee within seven days", she said.