Bhubaneswar: A day after removal of senior Congress leader Srikant Jena from the Manifesto Committee for the assembly elections, PCC Disciplinary Committee chairman Hemananda Biswal Friday said Jena was removed for creating indiscipline in the party.
“Party high command has removed him (Jena) from the committee for his indiscipline. Steps have been taken to make Srikant a disciplined leader. We have recommended our high command to take disciplinary action against both Jena and Krusha Chandra Sagaria,” Biswal told mediapersons here.
If he (Jena) would not correct himself, the party would issue him a show-cause notice. Besides, he may be suspended and if necessary, expelled from the party, he warned.
Addressing mediapersons here, Jena said, “While preparing the preface of the party’s manifesto as the chairman, I had mentioned that if Congress comes to power in Odisha, the party should select a leader of the backward community as the chief minister and a Dalit as deputy CM.”
Stating he had also appealed for confiscation of properties of the mining mafia in the state, the former Union Minister said, “The PCC in-charge Jitender Singh had requested me not to make the preface public. But I asked him to keep me out of the committee if he disagreed with the preface. Now, I am happy that he has removed me from the panel.”
Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik said the AICC has given the responsibility of the Committee to a young and knowledgeable person, who can visit each district and interact with the people. “The party will never tolerate any indiscipline,” he added.
Commenting on mining lootera remark of Jena, the PCC chief said, “I have never into the mining business. But, I have to look into other’s business.”
PNN