BJD knocks CEO door for action on its MCC violation complaints

Surjit Kumar Dhal,Bhubaneswar, March 28: Ruling BJD Wednesday knocked the door of the Chief Electoral Officer here seeking action on its complaint against Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Doordarshan.

        In a memorandum to the CEO, the party said its earlier complaint to CEO on Petrol Pump owners and Gas agencies being used by BJP for election purposes with black money has been proved true and Union Minister was behind all this.

It said, “On 14th we had appealed to you for enforcing strict video surveillance of petrol pumps and gas agencies in Odisha being used as cash hoarding and distribution points during 2019 elections under instruction from Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.”

It alleged that it did not happen and the events of yesterday have proved their apprehension correct.

“Yesterday, (March 26, 2019) cash worth Rs 2 lakhs was seized from a car at Guderpali, under Melchhamunda police station in Bargarh district. The vehicle from which the cash was seized is owned by Sanjeev Mohapatra of Sohela, Bargarh. He is a supporter of BJP candidate from Bijepur Sanat Gadtia and BJP flags were also seized from this vehicle,” the memorandum said adding, “He is a petrol pump owner.”

 This shows that the Petrol Pumps for their cash rich nature are being called into election work at the instance of the Union Minister, the party alleged in the memorandum.

        It demanded strict video surveillance of petrol pumps and gas agencies in Odisha as it apprehended that they might be used as in Bijepur by-election as cash hoarding and distribution points during 2019 elections.

Further, it said 24 hours live CCTV video footage must be recorded at every petrol pump and gas agency and made available to the CEO and opposition parties to verify.

It further rued that no action has been taken against Doordarshan for violation of Model Code of Conduct by it Doordarshan for blacking out Biju Janata Dal activities.

In another memorandum it said on March 20 it had appealed before the poll panel for action against the national broadcaster.

“It has been seen that the Doordarshan News Odia telecast out of Bhubaneswar has imposed an unofficial ban on coverage of Biju Janta Dal and its political activities,” it alleged adding, “On the other hand, the news of the Bharatiya Janata Party’ political activities are taking a large chunk of the Odia news bulletin space and Union Minister Pradhan is being given maximum coverage in these news bulletins.

It attached two documents, which are news bulletin points, saying it proves how BJP is being promoted and various activities and the BJD is being blacked-out by the national broadcaster.

 “Strict action should be taken against this official as well against Doordarshan for their partisan attitude and displaying favoritism to BJP,” it demanded.