BJD playing political game on FDI issue to woo BJP: Pyari

--‘Govt bribed Maoists to release Vineel Krishna, Hikaka’

BHUBANESWAR: Biju Janata Dal has played political game on FDI issue to attract BJP, said Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) chief and Rajya Sabha member Pyari Mohan Mohapatra while addressing the presspersons during a workers induction meeting of the Morcha here on Friday.

Mohapatra said that a person (Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik) who had invited Reliance Fresh to start retail business in the State, now the person is protesting FDI in retail which is contradictory. The State Government had given land to the company in the capital city and at the prime location in Brahmapur city without thinking about the retail businessmen and vendors, he added.

“At first, the rulling party was internally supporting Congress, but now the party is coming towards the BJP side soon after the CBI started inquiry into the coal block allocation and mining scam in the State,” the OJM chief said.

Expressing satisfaction over the Supreme Court’s order to work as an un-attached member in the Rajya Sabha, Mohapatra said that the order was the first step of my victory over the BJD chief.         

While talking to the Mediapersons, Mohapatra quoted the interview of Maoist interlocutor Dandapani Mohanty who recently exposed that the State Government had offered Rs 4 crore to the Maoists during abduction of R Vineel Krishna and Rs 2 crore in the case of Laxmipur MLA Jhina Hikaka to woo the Maoists for the safe release of the duo. First ransom money was given through three secretaries of the State Government, while the second one was given through a Minister, he added.

“If the allegation becomes true, it will be dangerous,” said Mohapatra. The State Government has been saying that they are fighting the Maoist menace tooth and nail by deploying platoons of Central and State forces and beating the drums of having discussion on peace process with the red rebels, but on the other hand, the State Government is paying bribe to release abducted persons which is really unfortunate, said Mohapatra.

From where the State Government had brought the huge money for the purpose, from the Government exchequer or from other sources, Mohapatra questioned, adding, “The Chief Minister should keep a statement regarding the issue.”

Mohapatra said the family members of the police personnel and the common people of the State would not spare the State Government, who is doing ‘Salakusti’ (compromise) with the Maoists without thinking about the lives of the police and paramilitary forces.

“Most of the political leaders along with police DG are trying to link me with Maoists at any cost to make me inactive, but it will not be fruitful at all. The conspiracy against me has been started from the day of Prakash Mishra’s joining as DGP of the State because I was not in the favour of Mishra,” said Mohapatra.

The OJM chief said that he would make OJM as political front after three months. Now OJM has three lakh workers, said Mohapatra, adding, “We would collect 13 lakh workers before March 2013.”