Union Minister Jual Oram Warns Critics, Threatens to 'Chop Off Their Hands'
Union Minister Jual Oram threatened critics in Rourkela, vowing to 'chop off their hands' and announcing he would contest elections again.
Union Tribal Affairs Minister and six-time Sundargarh MP Jual Oram warned his critics that he would take action if they continued a disinformation campaign against him, and declared he would contest elections again despite previously announcing his retirement. Speaking to reporters in Rourkela after meeting BJP state general secretary (Organisation) Manas Mohanty, Oram accused unnamed rivals of spending money to destabilise him and claimed they hoped to secure a ministerial berth if he were dropped.
Why did Oram issue the threat?
“Some people are spending money to defame me. They are engaged in disinformation campaign thinking if Jual Oram is dropped, they may get a ministerial berth,” he told mediapersons. He added that he had apprised Mohanty of the situation in detail and expected the party to give him justice; otherwise he would approach the central leadership. Oram stressed that he had met Manas Mohanty and apprised him of everything in details, and that the party officer‑bearers would hold discussions to address his concerns.
What triggered the confrontation?
The outburst follows the arrest on Wednesday of Oram’s Rourkela representative, Prakash Paswan, by Rourkela police on charges of harbouring criminals in the government‑run Circuit House at Panposh using his political clout. Sources said Paswan’s arrest has left the BJP rank and file in the Sundargarh parliamentary constituency in shock and dismay. Paswan had joined the BJP just before the 2024 general elections after being suspended by the BJD. Over the past two years, the BJP rank and file has been increasingly uncomfortable with the growing clout of Paswan and Jual’s district representative Khusboo Yadav over the administrative machinery. While there has been suppressed anger among the majority of BJP leaders and workers, none has dared to speak openly. Yadav has been associated with Jual since a few years.
What happens next?
Oram warned that if the party does not address his grievances, he will meet the BJP’s central leadership. He also challenged his critics directly: “If anyone tries to discredit my reputation, I have the strength to chop off their hands. I am throwing a challenge. I had announced not to contest elections anymore. But I will fight the polls again. The people who are against me will see what I will do to them.” The state BJP president Manmohan Samal had suspended Paswan from the state executive committee of the BJP Yuva Morcha on August 20, and Oram had earlier warned of legal action against those indulging in a defamatory campaign against Yadav. On August 22, Jual had acknowledged that Paswan was one of his active workers and representative to the Rourkela Municipal Corporation.
What did Jual Oram say about his critics?
He warned that he would “chop off their hands” if they continued a disinformation campaign against him.
Why did Oram claim his rivals were targeting him?
Oram alleged that some people who joined the BJP from other parties were spending money to defame him in the hope of securing a ministerial berth if he were dropped.
What triggered Oram's public outburst?
The arrest of his Rourkela representative Prakash Paswan on charges of harbouring criminals in the Circuit House at Panposh.
What did Oram say about his political future?
He declared he would contest elections again, reversing his earlier announcement that he would not run.
What steps has the BJP taken regarding Paswan?
State BJP president Manmohan Samal suspended Paswan from the state executive committee of the BJP Yuva Morcha on August 20.
Ansuya Minz
Senior District Correspondent, Sundargarh
Ansuya Minz has covered Sundargarh district for six years, reporting on the steel belt's industry, tribal welfare policy, and the Rourkela sports ecosystem. She is based in Rourkela.
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