Smriti Irani calls Pandian ‘thekedar’, says Modi will punish those behind Ratna Bhandar missing key

Paradip: Stepping up the attack on Odisha’s BJD government over Puri Jagannath Temple’s Ratna Bhandar issue, BJP star campaigner and Union Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday said the saffron party will not spare those found guilty in keeping the investigation report on missing key under wrap.

“I am here to warn the remote-control BJD government that as soon as lotus blooms in Odisha, the Puri Jagannath Temple’s Ratna Bhandar missing key report will be out in public domain. And those found guilty will not be spared by Narendra Modi,” she said while addressing a public meeting at Kujang near Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district.

Coming down heavily at BJD leader V K Pandian, the Union Minister called the former IAS officer a thekedar (contractor/agent) and accused him of giving full credit to the BJD regime for the free rice and ration being sent by Modi government for about 3.2 crore people of Odisha,

Accusing the BJD leader of running a remote-controlled government in the state, the firebrand BJP leader hit out at Pandian for his failure to even answer as to why the report of the inquiry commission on the missing Ratna Bhandar keys was not made public.

The BJP leader said she has come to the people of Odisha with Modi’s guarantees and people also want his guarantees. “Press on the lotus button and get free ration for the next five years, press on the lotus button and get Rs 6,000 every year from Kisan Samaan Nidhi. People of Odisha also want Modi’s guarantee (Odisha loka chahanti Modi guarantee)

Alleging that BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been held captive and does not even have the right to speak, Irani appealed people to vote for BJP and free the “future of Odisha”. Irani is also scheduled to campaign in Kendrapada’s Aul and Balasore’s Remuna on Saturday.