BJD Minister’s Volte Face Over Support To Bharat Bandh

Bhubaneswar: Hours after extending support to Bharat Bandh call given by central trade unions, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain on Tuesday said that he had made the statement as Working President of Hind Mazdoor Sabha.

“My statement in the media a little while ago comes from the fact that I am the Working President of Hind Mazdoor Sabha and taking up the plight of the labourers and working class is my moral duty,” he tweeted.

He further said that this would have no bearing on the BJD’s decision to either support or oppose the 24-hour strike. “These are different and I accept and respect whatever decision our party supremo Hon’ble CM Shri Naveen Patnaik ji has taken/will take,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle.

The Minister had earlier told media that his party supported the bandh call in protest against the Centre’s failure in curbing the steep hike in the prices of essential commodities and not taking necessary steps to solve rising unemployment. “The Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas slogan of the Centre has now become Sab ka Vinash,” he added.

Sources said that the party is unlikely to officially support the bandh call, but it will neither oppose it.

Odisha Congress had earlier extended its support to the bandh on Wednesday and several BJD leaders are averse to joining forces with the rival party, the sources added.