Bhubaneswar: Former Union Minister Srikant Jena, expelled from the Congress party recently, Wednesday asked AICC President Rahul Gandhi and the party in-charge in Odisha Jitender Singh to define indiscipline.
Jena told news persons here that the OPCC President Niranjan Patnaik had himself admitted in the high court to have given bribe and that he had written to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Jitender Singh opposing his appointment as the PCC President but it was ignored.
Jena said he had also demanded action against people involved in mining scam and confiscation of their properties, implementation of Mandal Commission recommendation in the state and 38.5 per cent reservation in technical educational institutes for SC/ST and other backward class people if Congress came to power but it was not considered.
He asked whether raising such issues was indiscipline.
Jena said Niranjan should be asked to resign from the OPCC President post for the larger interest of the party and the state. Otherwise, the public ramifications of defending a ‘bribe giver’ would be detrimental to the party not only in Odisha but also in the whole country.
The former minister alleged that there is a tacit understanding between the OPCC President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to loot the state.
He said Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Admi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal is coming to Bhubaneswar on the invitation of Samajik Nyay Abhijan, an organsiation working for the ST/SC and backward people, to address a public meeting here.
The leaders from SP and Trinamool Congress are also scheduled to join and the meeting and would chalk out a strategy as to how to check Patnaik.
Jena asked Rahul to clarify whether he would implement the Mandal Commission in the state if the party comes to power in the upcoming elections.
He also wanted Rahul to say whether action would be taken against the people who have looted the mines and their properties confiscated.
Rahul must have to say whether provision for 38.5 per cent reservation would be made in the technical educational institutes for SC/ST students or not.