Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is on a visit to the state, must explain why his Odisha unit party chief is "avoiding the law".
Following Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik and his son Navjyoti Patnaik, accused of frauds and misappropriation of funds, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is on a visit to the state, must explain why his Odisha unit party chief is "avoiding the law".
Talking to reporters in Delhi, the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said, "We need an explanation from Congress president Rahul Gandhi. He must explain why Odisha PCC president is avoiding law. Why is there a pretended hypocrisy on corruption?"
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police has registered a case of misappropriation of funds and cheating against Navjyoti Patnaik, son of Niranjan Patnaik, under section 91 of CrPC. Sources suggest that Niranjan is likely to be called for questioning.
The police is investigating a fraud case based on a complaint filed by one Kamaljeet Singh Ahluwalia against VAVASI Telecom Pvt Ltd owned by Patnaiks. The father-son duo has been charged with looting Rs 32 crores as the directors of VAVASI Telecom (P) Ltd.
"The law will take its own course. These are not allegations levelled by the media or political rivals, but based on facts and proof. Rahul Gandhi should answer people on the issue," Pradhan said.
At a time when Rahul Gandhi is on visit to Odisha, Pradhan, a senior leader of the BJP who also hails from the state said, "The Congress during its rule had ensured lack of development in Odisha. The party during its rule had successfully ruining the dreams of youth of the state. The state never got its due during the Congress rule. The party seriously compromised the development in the state."
"The Congress must answer to the people of Odisha on the corruption perpetrated by their party leaders. They are accountable to the people," he said.
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