Rourkela: Odisha’s Opposition Congress Sunday held a demonstration here demanding the resignation of Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram for allegedly threatening political opponents who attempted to tarnish his image and oust him from the ministry.
The Union minister’s statement came after Rakesh Paswan, a close aide of his, was arrested for allegedly being involved in an organised crime case in Rourkela.
The Congress alleged that Paswan has been running an organised crime group with the support of Oram, the BJP MP of Sundergarh.
The Opposition party demanded an impartial probe and Oram’s resignation over his threat remarks, and warned that the agitation would be intensified if the minister does not resign.
Former Sundargarh district Congress president Gyanendra Das attacked Oram, accusing him of failing to do enough for tribal communities, despite describing himself as a prominent leader of them.
Let him show his strength by contesting an election. The people of Sundergarh will give him a befitting reply, Das said.
Oram Friday had claimed that there was a conspiracy hatched to remove him from the ministry by some leaders who joined the BJP lately, thinking that they would get a chance to become a Union minister if he was dropped.
If any person (s) deliberately spreads misinformation against me, then I have the ability to punish them. In politics, there will be Opposition, there will also be criticism. But lies, oppression and conspiracy will not be tolerated, the minister had said.
I will certainly take strong action against them. I have the ability to cut off the hands of anyone who defames means and burn them, he had told reporters.
Oram had earlier made it clear that he had no objection to legal action being taken against his aide.