Odisha Elections 2024: Dharmendra Pradhan Accuses V K Pandian Of Trying To Sell State Minerals Through Black Rose Vessel

Bhubaneswar: With top leaders of BJP going full throttle against BJD government during their campaign for the last phase of elections in Odisha, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday accused BJD leader V K Pandian of trying to sell the state’s minerals through a ship.

Speaking at an election meeting in Badachana of Jajpur district, Pradhan said there is a slave in the state administration who had hatched a conspiracy to sell the minerals of the stage clandestinely.

“There is a ‘Gumasta’ (agent) and a ‘Kritadas’ (slave) here. The ‘Kritadas’ had hatched conspiracy to export the resources (minerals) of Odisha to sell abroad through ‘Black Rose’ vessel. Inquiry is on and he will go to jail,” he said.

Pradhan was apparently referring to Pandian as agent and slave in his address. As one of BJP leaders sitting on the dais named Pandian for the people to understand, Pradhan said one should not utter his name as he has to take Tulsi (Basil) leaves to purify the mouth.

It may be noted that Mongolian vessel ‘MV Black Rose’ carrying a cargo of 23,847 tonne of iron ore and 920 tonne of furnace oil sank five km off Paradip coast under mysterious circumstances when it was on a chartered voyage to China on September 9, 2009.

The CBI, which was handed over the investigation after a much hue and cry, submitted an affidavit before the Orissa High Court in connection with the case on March 19 this year.

Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused chief minister Naveen Patnaik of trying to impose a ‘Tamil Babu’ on Odisha and said the people of the state will never tolerate this move.

Also Read: Naveen Patnaik Trying To Impose ‘Tamil Babu’ On Odisha, People Will Never Tolerate: Amit Shah