Bhubaneswar: The BJP sharpened its attack on BJD by accusing the ruling party of resorting to violence in fear of losing power in the 2024 elections in Odisha.
Speaking to media persons on Friday, state president of BJP Manmohan Samal said the attack on his party’s leaders and workers in different places of the state pointed at BJD’s frustration due to fast receding popularity.
“Be it the poll violence in Dunguripalli pachayat in Titlagarh or the assault of BJP workers in Bhubaneswar or Khallikot violence, the role of BJD in all the incidents was clear. The ruling party has started resorting to violence as it has realised its defeat from the first round of elections in the state and overwhelming response received by the BJP’s Central leaders in rallies and public meetings,” Samal said.
Stating that there was no role of violence in politics, he said the BJP strongly in believed in peaceful and transparent conduct of the elections. “BJD has disrespected the democratic and political system in the state. It needs to be investigated at a high level to ascertain who was responsible for these violent incidents,” he said.
Samal said the BJD must realise that all political parties should accept the verdict of the people with humility. “Violence is not the solution to any problem and the BJP condemns any type of violent act,” he added.
He welcomed the steps taken by the chief electoral officer to ensure free and fair election in the state. But the present situation called for deployment of paramilitary and military forces and installation of more CCTV cameras at polling booths, the BJP leader said.
Coming down on BJD leader VK Pandian, Samal said non-Odia people can never know the rich language, literature and culture of Odisha. “Those, who do not know the difference between ‘Swabhaba Kabi’ and ‘Santha Kabi’, cannot be leader of Odias. Pandian must keep it in mind that the Odias have emotional connection with both poets. Disrespect to them is a humiliation to great sons of our soil and Odias will never forgive him for such disrespect,” he said.
It may be noted that Pandian had wrongly called ‘Swabhaba Kabi’ Gangadhar Meher as ‘Santha Kabi’ and Santha Kabi Bhima Bhoi as only ‘Kabi’ while addressing a rally in Sambalpur. BJD’s Sambalpur MLA candidate Rohit Pujari termed it ‘a slip of tongue’.
