Bhubaneswar: The row over candidature of Ashwini Vaishnaw for the Rajya Sabha elections has created a storm in the Assembly on the second day of Budget session, Wednesday.
The House was adjourned several times as the Congress members created a ruckus on the floor of the House by shouting slogans against BJD and BJP. Later, Speaker SN Patro conveyed an all-party meeting to resolve the logjam and the issue was resolved.
The issue was raised by Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra who accused Vaishnaw, a former IAS officer, of being hand in glove with the mining mafia as well as a beneficiary of discretionary quota (DQ) scam in Odisha.
Mishra asked how Vaishnaw’s candidature will help protect the interests of Odisha. He said Vaishnaw was among the 1197 persons who benefited in the DQ scam – a dubious allotment of land to influential persons in the state.
A task force headed by former IAS officer Taradutta investigated the DQ scam and made some recommendations to the government which, in turn, directed the vigilance in 2017 to take action on the basis of recommendations.
“Will the chief minister inform this House whether the vigilance has exonerated Vaishnav in the DQ case?”
Speaking during the Zero Hour, Mishra accused the BJD government of doing unprecedented favour to the saffron party. He also alleged that such activities clearly indicate that an open alliance exists between the regional party and the BJP.
“Never in the history of India, a regional political party has forfeited its Rajya Sabha seat to a rival Opposition party. This hints at the open truck between the BJP and the BJD. Moreover, the BJD has also supported a man who is tainted in mining scam,” Mishra said.
“How can you choose a person who has looted the state of its resources. Vigilance department has exonerated him. Shah Commission report appointed by the Supreme Court speaks about the issue. Legally, I can’t oppose it but this is a question of morality as to how you can select such a person,”
Mishra also questioned the BJD government about its tall claims of ‘zero tolerance’ for graft. The leader also claimed that he has papers to prove his involvement in controversial mining deals. “Why no words are spoken about his nomination? Is there a change of heart in the regional party? I want the Speaker to direct the Chief
Minister to make a statement in the House as to why he chose a tainted man for the Rajya Sabha?”
The Congress leader also attacked the government for choosing a non-Odia candidate of a rival party for the Rajya Sabha.
While demanding a ruling from the Chair on the CM’s clarification over the matter, Congress members led by Tara Prasad Bahinipati rushed to well and shouted slogans on the BJD-BJP nexus and the government. Unable to run the House, the Speaker adjourned the proceeding for at least five times before holding an all-party meeting to resolve the row.
Santosh Singh Saluja (Cong) vehemently opposed the BJP and BJD for their links with mines. Saluja alleged Vaishnaw was associated with mining firm Brahmani River Pellets Limited (BRPL) and has business deals with BJP president Amit Shah’s son.
Meanwhile, Ashwini refuted the Congress allegations in the House. “Let the Rajya Sabha elections be over, I will speak on the issue. I have nothing to hide. Those making the allegations first should investigate the issue,” he said.
The BJD also tried to justify fielding the BJP candidate from Odisha. Party leader Debi Prasad Mishra said Mishra has a right to raise the matter in the House but there is no point raking up the issue after the nomination of the Rajya Sabha candidate has been finalised.