Vyapam scam: BJD demands Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation

The ruling BJD in Odisha on Wednesday demanded resignation of Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after his name was linked to the main accused in Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh.

"We demand Pradhan's resignation if the statement of Vyapam scam main accused Sudhir Sharma's IT returns for 2013 comes true," BJD spokesman P K Deb said.

Pradhan should cooperate with the CBI investigation into the scam after stepping down from the Union ministry if there is truth in the charge, he said. Pradhan, however, denied the allegation of receiving payments from any accused of Vyapam scam.

BJD in a statement here also criticised the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre over charges being levelled against Union Minister Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Maharastra Minister Pankaja Munde and MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Reacting in same vein, senior Congress leader Kailash Acharya said Pradhan should resign as minister forthwith and cooperate with CBI probe into Vyapam scam.