New Delhi: Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram has alleged that some of his party colleagues of running a smear campaign against him to damage his reputation and oust him from the Cabinet.
He had the strength to cut off the hands of those involved, the BJP leader warned.
His remarks came after one of his aides, Prakash Paswan, was arrested in Odisha’s Rourkela over alleged links to an organised crime case. Paswan has rejected the allegations, as reported by Hindustan Times.
He had no objection to legal proceedings against Paswan, who was arrested for allegedly providing shelter to criminals at a government-run guest house in the steel city, Oram had earlier said, as reported by PTI.
The minister claimed that a number of BJP leaders were working together to damage his reputation and get him removed from the Union cabinet, with the hope of taking his place.
“Of late, some people are spending money and plotting conspiracies to defame me and undermine my position. They think they will get a chance to become a minister in the Union cabinet if I am dropped,” he said.
Oram, a six-time MP from Odisha’s tribal-dominated Sundergarh Lok Sabha constituency, had earlier said that he will not be contesting another parliamentary election.
He has now said that the current situation had led him to reconsider that decision.
“I had earlier announced not to contest elections any more. But, under these circumstances, I would certainly contest (the 2029 general elections),” he said.
He would find out who was behind the alleged campaign against him, the minister said, adding that he had already raised the issue with the Odisha BJP organising secretary.
“I will certainly take strong action against them. I have the ability to cut off the hands of anyone who defames me… and burn them,” he asserted.
The BJD and Congress hit out at the ruling BJP government in Odisha following Oram’s remarks.
“Oram is a senior tribal leader and his statement shows there is severe internal differences within the BJP. Their leaders are busy fighting among themselves instead of working for the people,” Opposition chief whip Pramila Mallik of the BJD said.
Party spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said in a statement that the minister’s comments had put the state’s law and order situation under scrutiny.
“Oram is openly declaring that he will take the law into his own hands. How is this comment justified?” Mohanty said.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das called Oram’s remarks “rude” and said they reflected the BJP’s “fascist” ideology.
“There is no place for violence in India, the country of Gandhi, which fought for freedom through non-violent means and removed foreign rule,” he said.