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Sonia summons Patnaik to Delhi as gangrape case hots up

The Congress high command has summoned Orissa Chief Minister J B Patnaik on January 16 to give his version of the unrest in the party over his leadership and the steps taken by the government over the alleged gangrape of Anjana Mishra.

However, officially the party has declined to say whether he has been summoned or invited for the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled to be held on that day. Congress spokesperson Girija Vyas only said Patnaik would be in New Delhi on January 16 and provide information on the steps taken by his government in the matter.

Vyas was also not forthcoming on the date of the proposed visit of AICC general secretary Madhavrao Scindia to Orissa. CWC member Arjun Singh said yesterday that Scindia would visit Orissa this week.

According to party sources, Patnaik has not been invited to the CWC meeting which would discuss the follow-up on the Pachmarhi declaration and the constitutional changes approved by the AICC. Patnaik is not a member of the CWC.

Vyas maintained that any action would be taken by the high command only after the judicial inquiry ordered into the gangrape is completed. The Congress has full faith in the judiciary, she said. The party had earlier condemned the incident and directed the state government to take immediate action to nab the culprits in the case.

A group of dissident Orissa ministers and party functionaries met Congress president Sonia Gandhi last night and sought the removal of Patnaik as chief minister. They also said the law and order situation in the state has deteriorated.

UNI

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