Bhubaneswar: War of words between the ruling BJD and opposition BJP intensified on Wednesday, a day after the saffron party’s youth wing activists and police clashed during a protest rally in Bhubaneswar.
While the ruling BJD leaders accused the BJP Yuva Morcha activists of having mounted a violent attack on the police personnel who tried to stop them from marching towards the Assembly, the saffron party refuted the allegation.
Senior BJP leaders, on the other hand, alleged that ruling BJD ‘goons’ joined the police in thrashing Yuva Morcha protesters.
Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, BJD spokesperson Shreemayee Mishra said the violence witnessed during the protest on Tuesday is condemned by all.
“Attempts to perpetrate goonda-raj in the name of staging protests are not acceptable in a peaceful state like Odisha,” she said.
Alleging that the saffron party activists were the first to attack the police personnel, Mishra said the police were forced to retaliate in self defense.
The BJD leader further claimed that the protest was organised to fulfill the political ambition of one person. She also sought a statement from senior BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday’s incident.
Reacting sharply to Mishra’s remarks, BJP MLA Suryavanshi Suraj said the statement of the BJD spokesperson was surprising. She should have named the leader while claiming that the Yuva Morcha protest was held to fulfill the political ambition of a person, he said.
Moreover, instead of seeking a statement from the Union Minister, BJD must remember that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik happens to be in charge of Home department.
Hitting out at BJD, Suraj sought to know as to why the Chief Minister is silent on the violence that took place on Tuesday.
