Bhubaneswar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday said thorough probe would be conducted to the daylight murder of Naba Kishore Das and alleged corruption in different spheres if the party is voted to power in Odisha.
Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, senior leader and former state BJP president Samir Mohanty alleged that law and order situation is in shambles during the BJD regime in the state.
Alleging that the entire administration is in the clutches of a handful of non-Odia officers, the BJP leader said imported leaders are misleading the people of Odisha in the name of serving the state.
Reacting sharply to a purported video showing BJD leader V K Pandian allegedly nudging Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s leg to give some signal, Mohanty said the action amounted to an insult to the CM.
Terming the incident ‘unfortunate’, he said the CM cannot be manhandled every now and then and Pandian should tender an apology for repeatedly insulting Naveen.
The BJP leader also lashed out at senior IPS officers D S Kutey and Asish Singh – against whom the Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken action for interfering in the conduct of elections. He accused the two officers of working for the ruling BJD and indulging in numerous nefarious activities.
Mohanty also hit out at Pandian for calling the ECI action politically motivated, thereby questioning its impartiality.
Terming the law and order situation in the state as dismal, the BJP leader said it was shameful that cabinet Minister Naba Das was shot dead in broad daylight. Investigation into the murder was also conducted in a shoddy manner, he said, adding that BJP will conduct a thorough investigation to unravel the mystery behind the sensational murder.
Coming down heavily on the BJD government over allegations of corruption in several spheres, Mohanty claimed that rich mineral resources were plundered by unscrupulous elements in collusion with the ruling party leaders. Similarly, the state was also rocked by chit fund scam and other scandals, he said, adding that all corruption issues would be thoroughly probed if BJP forms government in the state after the 2024 elections.