Bhubaneswar: The state BJP unit on Friday scaled up its attack on the BJD and demanded a CBI probe into the incidents of corruption raised by Damodar Rout, who was recently expelled from the party.

Addressing a news conference here, BJP spokesperson Pitambar Acharya said: "Earlier on each small issue, Naveen Patnaik used to set up commissions. But, we have seen the outcome of each commission. Now, we are demanding a CBI probe into the alleged sapling, co-operative bank loan and Omfed scams. A CBI probe can bring the truth about corruption to light and put the accused behind the bars."

Warning the BJD that the BJP will hit the streets if the state government fails to handover the cases of corruption to the CBI, Acharya said: "If the chief minister does not handover the cases for CBI inquiry, the BJP will launch agitation and seek legal help. Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy has accepted irregularities on the floor of the Assembly. But, the chief minister has maintained a stoic silence on the issue."

He said: "There has been corruption to the tune of Rs 700 crore in the co-operative banks. The chief minister should have responded to the issue raised by Rout. The way the chief minister has tried to skip the issues raises a number of questions which need to be answered. If Naveen babu thinks he is not accountable on the issues raised by Rout, the people will give him a befitting reply through ballots in the coming election."

Rout alleged that the loan waiver money meant for the farmers had been swindled in the co-operative banks. The BJP also reminded the BJD about how former chief minister Lalu Prasad had been put behind the bars in the alleged Rs 400 crore fodder scam.

Reacting to the allegations, BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said: "All these issues have already been debated. The government will take necessary steps in this regard. We don't need any advice from the BJP. It should not poke its nose into our party affairs (expulsion of Rout). It should not be a matter of concern for the BJP what decisions are taken by the BJD supremo regarding his party members. It seems the BJP leaders have lost their minds."