Bhubaneswar: Another BJD leader was targeted by Opposition protesters with eggs in the state on Thursday. This time, it was BJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Munna Khan’s turn, when Congress workers hurled eggs on his vehicle in Darutheng on the outskirts of the state capital.
Khan, accompanied by the BJD’s Khurda district president Bibhuti Bhusan Balabantaray, was in Darutheng to participate in a programme on the distribution of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) smart health cards.
On the way, Khan’s vehicle was targeted by Congress workers. A scuffle between Congress and BJD workers ensued soon after. Several members from both the ruling and Opposition parties were injured in the scuffle, sources said.
The Congress alleged that the programme on BSKY health cards was being held as a “private” function of the ruling BJD and that local MLA Sura Routray and local MP Aparajita Sarangi were not invited to the event while Khan and Balabantaray were invited.
The party alleged that no government officials or local leaders were present at the function.
Routray condemned the attack on Congress workers and warned that the party will intensify protests in the coming days.
The Opposition has targeted the ruling BJD both inside and outside the Odisha Assembly. In the days leading up to the Winter Session, several BJD leaders were attacked with eggs across the state over the Mamita Meher murder case.
On December 10, Congress activists protesting against the Mamita Meher murder case and demanding the ouster of Minister of State for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra were lathi-charged by Odisha police, who chased them inside the Congress Bhawan here, drawing charges of “police trespass” and “brutality” from the Congress.
Routray has demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident. “The incident should be inquired thoroughly and strict action taken against the errant police personnel. Otherwise, the Congress will intensify its protests in the coming days,” he said.
Congress’s Jeypore MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati gheraoed the Koraput SP office to protest the December 10 incident. “If justice is delayed, we will greet the CP with eggs. CM Naveen Patnaik will not be spared wherever he goes,” he warned.
