Bhubaneswar: Former Union Minister Srikant Jena who was expelled from Congress party late Saturday night fired his first salvo against state party president Niranjan Patnaik and threatened to expose AICC chief Rahul Gandhi.
Addressing reporters along with former Koraput MLA Krushna Chandra Sagaria here Sunday morning, Jena said he would expose Rahul Gandhi to such an extent that he would “not show his face in public” again.
Jena, along with Sagaria was expelled from the primary membership of the Congress for anti-party activities by the Odisha unit on a directive from the All India Congress Committee.
“I understand that Rahul Gandhi is visiting Odisha on January 25. I will expose him on that day so that he will not be able to show his face in public,’’Jena told the media.
He, however, did not divulge details of his proposed maha-khulasa (great disclosure) against the Congress chief. He also accused the Pradesh Congress Committee president of having nexus with the mining mafia and ignoring the aspirations of the electorate from the downtrodden classes and sidelining leaders hailing from the backward castes.
“In a letter to Rahul Gandhi I had given him two alternatives — either you choose the mining mafia and the coterie of Patnaik brothers or the downtrodden people of Odisha. For 40 years Odisha was ruled by two Patnaik families. I was keen to uphold the Congress dignity with the support of leaders from the downtrodden and poor people,” he said.
“As a member of the manifesto committee, representing the backward castes, I suggested a Dalit should become the Chief Ministerial candidate in Odisha and proposed seizure of the properties of illegal miners. But Rahul Gandhi has decided in favour of Patnaiks to lead Odisha and backed the mining mafia. I accuse him of colluding with the mafias,” he added.
Annoyed by his expulsion from the party, Jena said the Odisha Congress is controlled by mining mafia and Rahul is with them.
Commenting on his expulsion, he said, “The main qualification needed to become a member of the Congress is the ability to steal minerals and earn money from such ill-got sources to invest in party. As I did not fit into the criteria I was ousted from the party.”
Former MLA Krushna Chandra Sagaria, who was also expelled from the party, attacked the Congress. “I am not involved in any anti-party activity. I had demanded the removal of Narasingha Mishra from the post of Leader of Opposition as he has direct links with the third floor. Mishra wants his son to join the BJD,” said Sagaria.
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