BJD leaders press for ouster of minister involved in scam

Pressure is building within the ruling BJD for ouster of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma over his alleged involvement in a chit fund scam, as another senior party leader on Friday launched a veiled attack against him.

After Excise Minister Damodar Rout and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MPs Bhartruhari Mahatab and Nagendra Pradhan, another party MP, Tathagata Satapathy, on Friday criticised Food Supplies Minister Dasburma indirectly for his alleged links with chit fund firm Artha Tatwa group.

"There are a lot of rats in the godowns of Food Corporation of India (FCI) across the country. These rats secretly eat rice, sugar and wheat in the godowns. It does not mean that the entire godown would be destroyed because of a few rats. But they later fall into the trap," Satapathy told media persons here.

"The wise man will pick the rat and put it outside the godown very cleverly. And you don't need to kill the rat as it will automatically die under the sun," he added.

Satpathy said a proper decision will be taken at the right time over the issue.

His statement came a day after BJD MP Nagendra Pradhan maintained that the minister should honour public opinion.

"If it is about morality, Lord Ramachandra had banished Devi Sita in Ramayana knowing that she was a Sati. I believe in the principles of Ramayana," Pradhan told reporters on Thursday.

With several leaders demanding action against Dasburma, BJD spokesperson Amar Prasad Satapahty tried to downplay the issue by stating that the remarks of the leaders are personal and the party does not own their statements.