**Bhubaneswar: ** The reported controversial statement of Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram at the National Tribal Entrepreneurs Conclave 2018 held in Telangana’s capital city Hyderabad on Friday has stirred a hornet’s nest.
As per media reports, the Union Minister encouraged the 1000 odd participant tribal entrepreneurs to emulate fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya’s ‘smartness’ and ‘skill’ for availing bank loans in a bid to become successful entrepreneurs.
Dubbing Mallya as a ‘smart’ person, the Union Tribal Affairs Minister reportedly addressed the gathering at the conclave that despite being criticized for his illegal and objectionable act, Vijay Mallya was smart enough to influence bankers, politicians and government.
After landing in the soup for his controversial statement, Jual Oram on Saturday in his statement to a news agency was quoted saying he ‘accidentally’ took Mallya’s name and confessed that it was his ‘mistake’.
Notably, Mallya has already earned a dubious distinction for having fled to London in March 2016 during the ongoing tenure of BJP-led NDA Government in India after amassing bank loans to a tune of multi-crores although the Indian authorities have initiated action against him on the charges of fraud and money laundering.
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