On July 30, 2014, Oram wrote letters using his letterhead as minister for Tribal Affairs to PSUs like Mahanadi Coal Fields Limited and National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC).

In the letters, he sought funds for the Golden Jubilee celebration of Rashtradeep, an Odiya weekly. Mohan Bhagwat was the chief speaker at the event. Oram describes Rashtradeep as a weekly with a “nationalist outlook”.

“At a time when secessionists, fissiparous and anti-national forces are raising their ugly head, this newspaper…has been fighting against such forces,” he writes in the letter. He proceeds to write, “This year Rashtradeep is celebrating its Golden Jubilee ceremony. The year-long celebration will come to an end on 10 August, 2014. In this concluding programme Sarsanghchalak of RSS, Dr. Mohan Rao Bhagabat has [sic] consented to grace as chief–speaker.”

“They are also going to come out with a special issue on this occasion...So, I earnestly request you to book and send an advertisement while extending your helping hand to this noble cause,” his letter adds.

Incidentally, it was at this golden jubilee function where remarks made by RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat on the cultural identity of Indians being “Hindutva” created a media storm.

We asked Oram if he thought seeking funds for an organisation that appears close to his party ideology amounts to a conflict of interest. Our email went unanswered. Our calls and text message yielded no response.