Bhubaneswar: BJP’s Rajya Sabha candidate from Odisha, Ashwini Baishnab, challenged the mining scam allegation levelled against him by Congress today. Throwing down the gauntlet, he rather demanded Congress to prove.
In his media reactions on the allegation made by senior Congress MLA and former Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra on the floor of the Odisha Assembly today, Ashwini Baishnab contended, “I’ve nothing to hide, but let the (Rajya Sabha) election process be over, I’ll speak out everything openly. Those who are making this allegation, they should rather probe into it.”
“Had it been true, I wouldn’t have challenged to initiate probe. As it’s false, I challenge the opponents to enquire into it,” he reiterated.
Senior BJD MLA Debi Prasad Mishra argued, “His (Narasingha Mishra’s) allegation is politically motivated. He has the right to raise it in the Assembly. But in my opinion, it is indecent to rake up such issue against one after becoming a Rajya Sabha candidate.”
“So far the non-Odia issue is being raised, Congress had earlier fielded K. Vasudev Panniker. The then Indian Prime Minister Narasimha Rao was also Berhampur Lok Sabha candidate. In the Rajya Sabha election context, Manmohan Singh also got elected from other State. It is to be looked after by the Election Commission and the Returning Officer if there is any discrepancy,” the senior BJD leader further argued.
On the contrary, senior Congress legislator Narasingha Mishra has today asserted, “While raising the allegation in the Assembly today, I have made it clear that I have the proof and evidence with me. If the Speaker permits, I’ll read out in the House. I’ll also read out the Shah Commission report that states about the involvement of the persons and his (Baishnab’s) nexus with them.”