Bhubaneswar : BJD is the 5th richest regional political party which has received Rs. 1019.5 Crs. through Electoral Bond just within 6 year period from July 16th 2018 to February 2024. Many mining companies and steel companies have contributed huge funds to BJD through Electoral Bonds.
Today while addressing media people at Congress Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, Odisha Mrs. Bobbeeta Sharma, the AICC Media Coordinator for Odisha said that BJP is a party of extortionists. BJP is using IT, CBI and ED against many corporate houses and were able to encash Rs. 8252 crs out of Rs. 16,518 crs collected by various political parties last 5 years.
BJD being a friend of BJP also followed the footstep of BJP to collect political donation through Electoral Bond.
Naveen Patnaik’s BJD party in Bhubaneshwar received highest inflow of Electoral Bond among non-metro cities collecting 962 crores.
Prominent corporate houses who have contributed through electoral bonds are Aditya Birla Group’s Essel mining Rs. 174.5 cr, Utkal Alumina 70 cr, Grasim Industries 70 cr, JSPL of Nabin Jindal 100 cr, Jindal Steel (Sajan Jindal) 30 crs, Rashmi Cement Ltd. 45 crs. Rashmi Metallic Ltd. 27 crs, Odisha Metallic Pvt. Ltd. 18 crs, Runta sons pvt. Ltd. 50 cr. SN Mohanty 45 crs. Vedanta Ltd. 40 cr. Penguin Trading Agency Ltd. 30.5 cr. Sri Jagannath Steel and Power Ltd. 14 cr has paid to BJP to BJD.
Mrs. Sharma alleged that BJP is looting through Electoral Bond but freezing the bank accounts of Indian National Congress party and that too when the election is just two month away. She accused the BJP of demolishing democratic institutions and creating an environment whereby opposition parties are being denied a level playing field.
Sri Rajani Mohanty spokesperson of Odisha PCC while addressing the media said told that there is quid pro co smell in the BJD list of donors. He asked why these mines owner were paid huge amount through Electoral Bond to BJD? what benefit the mines owner and the industrial house got in return of it? it must be clarified by the BJD leaders to the people of Odisha. Not only that the liquor manufacture such as Laxmi Industrial Pvt. Ltd. and Castle liquid Pvt. Ltd. had also paid Rs. 10 crs. and 5 crs. to BJD through EB.
35 Pharmaceuticals companies has paid 800 cr to BJP through EB. Interestingly these companies were raided by the income tax and after that they purchased the bond. Pradesh Congress demand a clarification from both BJD and BJP about the quid pro co. Mr. Amiya Pandav the Chairman Social Media was also present in the press meet.