Subhas Chandra Pattanayak
Samir De has resigned from the cabinet while holding the portfolio of higher education.
Chief Minister Navin Patnaik has given it effect on February 9.
De should have been dismissed after his steps to wipe out Oriya in higher education was exposed in these pages. The principled discussions in these pages that were circulated by local media had then compelled De to retrace his steps but our demand for his dismissal to avenge the insult he had inflicted upon our mother tongue was sloughed over by Navin born with a non-Oriya tongue.
However, his resignation could not have been accepted had the Opposition not declared to take the Chief Minister into task for having corrupted Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) election by greasing voters’ palms with “black money” on the basis of categorical allegations raised openly by De.
If De is wrong, how does he continue as a cabinet minister? Asked the Opposition.
To save his skin Navin had to organize the resignation episode.
But De must not be allowed to escape.
He has raised a very serious allegation against the Chief Minister. But he has not resigned on repentance over the allegation. He has resigned by taking responsibility for the defeat of BJP in CMC. His allegations over use of black money by Navin Patnaik in CMC election that he had raised while continuing as a cabinet minister stands as yet.
He must be required to substantiate his allegations or to face prosecution for the mischief he has played against the public.