The Statesman

The Statesman

CBI probe into deals demanded

Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, Aug 19: For the second time in less than a fortnight, former Union minister and national vice president of the BJP Mr Juel Oram has demanded a CBI probe into deals and MoUs signed by the Orissa government. Mr Oram has ordered a CBI probe into the matter and asked the government to come clean.
In a statement issued yesterday Mr Oram claimed that the agents working for the MNCs which have signed the MoUs should be exposed. Reacting to ruling BJD MLA Mr Kishore Mohanty’s allegations against him at a meeting in Bonai, Mr Oram said: “If Mr Mohanty says I am working as the agent of Tata and Birla, let the BJD accept my challenge for a CBI probe into all deals/MoUs.”
Mr Oram requested the Opposition to lease out Khandadhar mines to Posco and said people are opposed to this and he would stand by them.
The government, instead of being adamant should respect public interest and opinion, he observed.
Earlier Mr Oram had lashed out at chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik and described him as an agent of Posco and Vedanta.
His attack made the leader of Opposition Mr JB Patnaik admit that Mr Oram had outdone the entire Opposition. Shocked by such criticism from Mr Oram, the CM took up the matter with BJP president Mr Rajnath Singh and Orissa-in-charge Mr Vinay Katiyar.
Mr Katiyar directed Mr Oram to exercise restrain and remain within his limits laxman-rekha. Mr Oram had responded saying he will maintain coalition dharma and will not cross the his limits but at the same time he was not ready to tolerate the Opposition’s interference. He said Ravana should not cross the laxman rekha as well. The CM was reportedly livid at the reference to Ravana.
Mr Kishore Mohanty and other BJD leaders had a go at Oram at the meeting held in Bonei providing him the chance to hit back yesterday.
Mr Oram confronted top leaders of the BJP pointing out that the BJD was gunning for him. He obtained permission to “return fire” before issuing the statement yesterday, said sources.