Conflict between BJP-BJD intensifies over the relations of liquor businessman Sahu
Bhubaneswar: Questioning the state government’s silence on the huge seizure of over Rs 350 million in cash in the recent raids on the distilleries of MP Jharkhand Dheeraj Sahu, the BJP on Wednesday alleged that the BJD had strong links with Boudh Distillery Pvt Ltd. . Ltd., the property of the Congress leader.
BJP state spokesperson Anil Biswal said that the state government should explain why the license for manufacturing and selling of liquor in the country was not reduced but was renewed since 2000. Who has almost monopoly on liquor trade in the state? asked. The company has 62 national liquor breweries in Balangir alone and several in other districts of the state. Biswal said, it seems that the state’s special tax policy has not changed for decades in favor of only the Sahu brothers who have been in business for a long time.
It was confirmed that if they conducted a detailed investigation, the illegal liquor trade in the country would increase to lakhs of rupees and cause huge loss to the state exchequer. The BJP organized demonstrations in the state capital and Balangir district to protest against the government’s silence ahead of the income tax raids.
BJD hit back at the opposition party by claiming that a Union Minister of State had struck a deal with the grand old party to help it win the elections. “We have heard that the Union Minister of State has struck a deal with the Congress to help in the upcoming elections. This is why state BJP leaders are so interested in defending the Congress on this subject”, BJP spokesperson Swayam Prakash Mohapatra told reporters.
The BJD leader said that some BJP leaders of Odisha also regret this stance of the party. “It is surprising that BJP state leaders are pointing towards BJD while their national leaders and Jharkhand leaders are agitating against Congress on this issue,” he said.