Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: A report regarding al-Qaeda terror suspect Abdur Rehman’s alleged visit to the Secretariat in October this year has prompted opposition Congress and BJP to train their guns on ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Both the parties have accused the BJD of having links with Rehman, who was nabbed by cops in Cuttack last week, and demanded an independent probe into it.
Reports are coming in that Rehman, who is said to be a member of al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), had allegedly visited the health and the school and mass education departments at the Secretariat October 7 after getting an entry pass issued to him. Leader of Opposition from Congress Narasingha Mishra said, “If police claim that he was under watch, how could it be possible to get a pass for the state Secretariat and meet ministers and secretaries. This needs to be probed thoroughly.”
Mishra said Rehman’s visit to the Secretariat suggested that he had a good rapport with the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and that there might be many others like him involved in spreading their tentacles in Orissa.
The Leader of opposition demanded a high-level and independent probe into the incident to disclose the link that the terror suspect might have with the ruling party leaders. Likewise, leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also suspected a relationship between Rehman and some BJD MLAs.
“Unless some BJD MLAs have some relation with the terrorist, how could he get a Secretariat pass? And how did he get a passport? All these need to be probed,” said senior BJP leader Pratap Sarangi. However, school and mass education minister Debi Prasad Mishra denied meeting Rehman, saying he learnt about the terror suspect getting himself a pass issued at the Secretariat from media reports. “If he had come to the Secretariat, it needs to be probed. His purpose of visit would also be probed,” said the minister.
Tahir Ali Khan, brother of the suspected AQIS member, had earlier stated that the arrest of his brother was aimed at defaming Orissa and the ruling BJD, while pleading the innocence of his brother.
