Archana Nag Issue Heats Up Odisha Assembly; Opposition Seeks CM’s Resignation

Bhubaneswar: Archana Nag’s honeytrap scandal rocked Odisha Assembly on the first day of its winter session on Thursday with the opposition BJP and Congress demanding resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for remaining a mute spectator to the whole the issue.

Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi of BJP and senior Congress legislator Narasingha Mishra targeted Naveen saying his silence indicated that he perhaps wants to shield those involved in the racket.

Raising the issue, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Narasingha Mishra said that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested someone, who was earlier let off by the police. Probe by the ED seems to be in the right direction.

Speaking to reporters outside the House, the veteran Congress leader said the ED is stated to have extracted valuable information about the racket from the arrested accused.

The SIT on black money has also sought a report and is said to have asked the Income Tax department to look into the matter, but the Chief Mister has turned a mute spectator to the whole episode. It appears that he wants to protect those involved in the racket, while police is also not conducting proper probe, he claimed.

Stating that Congress demands immediate resignation of the Chief Minister, Mishra said Naveen has no moral right to remain in office as he seems to be protecting his party leaders in the case.

BJP also came down heavily on the government over the Archana case which allegedly has the involvement of many political leaders, a majority from the ruling BJD.

The silence of the Chief Minister is raising suspicion and BJP demands that he resign from the post forthwith, Mohan Majhi said outside the House.