Opposition BJP today sought clarification from the ruling BJD, headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, on the claim made by suspected terrorist Md. Abdur Rahman's elder brother Tahir Ali Khan.
BJD, however, said Khan does not belong to BJD.
Khan claimed he is a block level BJD leader in Tangi area of Cuttack district and said his brother's arrest was aimed at defaming Odisha and the ruling BJD.
"The arrest is an attack on the ruling party. It's a plan to defame BJD and Odisha, an attempt to disturb peace and communal harmony in the state," said Khan who had been arrested in connection with terror attack on the American Center in Kolkata in 2002.
BJP state secretary Brughu Buxipatra said, "The people of Odisha need a clarification from the ruling party whether the suspected terrorist's brother, who was also arrested on similar charge, belonged to the BJD."
BJD spokesperson Amar Prasad Satpathy said, "A person, who is a supporter of a terrorist organisation, cannot be part of any political party. He is making statements to protect himself. We have no information about him in the party."
Claiming that his brother is innocent, Khan said, "This arrest is an act of jealousy since my brother is a learned person and can explain the religion well."
"My brother will come out clean like me," he said.
His brother, Md Abdur Rahman (37), a suspected terrorist of Al Qaida in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), was arrested from Paschimakachha village in Cuttack district by a joint team of Delhi and Odisha police in the early hours yesterday.
