Bhubaneswar, Nov. 11: The BJP today accused Odisha revenue minister Surjya Narayan Patro of concealing his assets and demanded his dismissal.
“Patro has concealed the assets owned by him and his family members in the property list released by the chief minister,” said BJP state unit vice-president Ashok Sahu at a news conference here today.
“He has shown properties worth Rs 2.43 crore. But the value of the properties owned by him and his family members across the state and outside will be above Rs 50 crore,” claimed Sahu. “The chief minister, who professes honesty and transparency, should order a high-level inquiry and dismiss Patro from the ministry,” he said.
Patro strongly refuted the allegations. “I will quit politics if it is proved that I have suppressed facts and own properties other than those mentioned in the property list,” he said.
Sahu pointed out that Patro owns a building built over 10,000sqft in a posh area of the capital city and he has shown the value of the property at Rs 45 lakh. “The market price of the property will be more than Rs 10 crore,” he said.
Besides, a plot measuring about 43,000sqft in the heart of the city has been allotted in favour of his son by the general administration department, headed by none other than the chief minister, cited the BJP leader.
“The market price of the property would be around Rs 40 crore and this property was neither mentioned in the affidavit filed by Patro during the 2009 polls nor in the property list submitted to the chief minister,” said Sahu.
“The allotment of this prime plot should be cancelled and auctioned in the open market for use in commercial purpose,” he said, adding that there are properties owned by Patro’s son and wife outside Odisha, which have not been disclosed by the minister.
“It seems the BJP leaders have gone mad. They have started personal insinuations against the ministers to create confusion in the public mind,” said Patro.