Bhubaneswar: Even as BJP state unit met the Governor on Saturday seeking his intervention in election funding irregularities by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the BJD hit back with allegations of mismatch in poll expense figures against Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram later in the day.
Addressing a news conference here, BJD MP from Puri Pinaki Mishra and BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said there were discrepancies in the declaration of funds received through cheque and cash in Jual’s affidavit.
Explaining the alleged discrepancies, Deb said, “In Part-III of the statement, Oram mentioned that he had received Rs 7,47,078 (Rs 7,27,078 in cheque and Rs 20,000 in cash) from various sources other than the donation given by the party. While explaining in details about it in schedule-9, he mentioned that he had received only Rs 2 lakh (cheque no- 610848) and rest of the amount in cash. Which information is true?”
Jual cited that he spent nothing from his own sources (in part-III), while the schedule-9 of the affidavit mentioned him spending Rs 4 lakh, he said.
Ridiculing BJP’s claim of receiving money from unaccounted sources, Deb said the saffron party had received Rs 1,073 crore from anonymous sources before the 2014 general and assembly elections. “Before pointing fingers at others, they should first clarify about the source from where they had received such huge amounts,” Deb added.
The Puri MP said his party would move the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday in this matter.
Accusing the BJP of attempting to malign the image of BJD and its president Naveen Patnaik, “Despite several provocations, Naveen Babu never indulged in personal attacks. There is no unethical behaviour and no illegality. There are two typographical errors which is a very common case. The BJP is raking up a false issue.”
He also hinted that the regional party would make public more such cases involving the saffron party in the coming days.
However, BJP defended its tribal leader and termed the BJD’s allegation as ‘an attempt to divert attention from Naveen Patnaik’s election fund irregularities issue’.
Reacting to this, BJP state vice president Samir Mohanty said: “They are evading the main question and instead have brought false allegations against Jual Oram.”
The saffron has moved the ECI, Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department seeking a probe into the BJD’s election funding.
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