Bhubaneswar: The state’s ruling BJD and the Opposition BJP Sunday engaged in a fresh bout of political slugfest with BJD accusing senior BJP leader and Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan of having political links with the Dhalasamanta brothers, who were arrested Friday for their alleged criminal acts.
Hitting out at Pradhan, BJD spokesperson PK Deb said, “He (Pradhan) knew everything about the Dhalasamanta brothers. Still he attended the event organised by them.”
BJD leaders levelled the allegations against Pradhan on the basis of a photograph and video clips circulated in a section of the media showing the Union ministers and some other political leaders purportedly sharing the dais with one of the Dhalasamanta brothers – Sushil Dhalasamanta – at an event held in Cuttack January 10. The ruling party also alleged that Pradhan praised the Dhalasamanta brothers in his speech at the event.
Senior BJD leader and minister for cooperation and excise, Damodar Rout, called for an investigation into the “political links” of the Dhalasamanata brothers.
Meanwhile, Pradhan lambasted BJD for deliberately dragging him into this controversy. “I do not have any link with people having criminal backgrounds. I attended the event like the other guests. Had their (Dhalasamanta brothers) background been known to me, I would not have attended the event,” said Pradhan to reporters.
“A few police personnel were also present at the event. Should we also charge them with having links with them (Dhalasamanta brothers)?” asked the Union minister.
Coming out in support of Pradhan, BJP state unit president Basant Panda strongly criticised the remarks of the BJD leaders on this issue. Taking on Rout, Panda said: “If any investigation is needed to be conducted, it should be conducted in order to find out under whose protection the Dhalasamanta brothers’ empire flourished.” PNN
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