BJD Rebuffs BJP’s Criticism On Law & Order In Odisha As ‘Hilarious’

Bhubaneswar: The ruling BJD and opposition BJP on Sunday targeted each other over the murder of Odisha minister Naba Kishore Das by a policeman.

Soon after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan raised questions on the transparency in the ongoing investigation into the case, BJD MP Sasmit Patra pointed out that BJP-ruled states have failed to order judicial inquiry into several sensational cases despite public demand.

Speaking to media persons in New Delhi, Patra said Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan talking about law-and-order in Odisha is hilarious. In BJP ruled states, there have been very sensational cases whether it is liquor tragedy or bridge collapse leading to deaths of many people and also crimes against women. People demanded judicial enquiry but in most cases it was never done.

Patra further said, “Your only intention is to politicise every criminal case and create political narrative. State is transparent and has given this case to be monitored by a High Court Judge nominated by the Orissa High Court. What’s there to hide for us? You took High Court’s name several times this morning in your statement but you doubt the monitoring by a High Court Judge? Why? Only to score political points? All the cases mentioned by you are in respective courts. You should have faith at least in the judiciary and allow courts to deliver justice and not instil doubts and questions on them.”

“Isn’t a senior BJP leader, who has 14 criminal cases including murder case, has been appointed as Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly by you? Wasn’t he in jail and is now out on bail in Dileshwar Sahu murder case which took place during Bijepur by-poll? You place such people as your Leader of Opposition but you have the moral fibre to question the Odisha government? You should be teaching us morality? Wasn’t your present president of Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha in jail and now out on bail in Bhatli murder incident?”, the national spokesperson of BJD asked.

Stating that people of Odisha have seen through BJP strategy of politicising criminal cases for political gains, Patra said the BJP cannot succeed in its plan to mislead them.

On the paddy procurement issue, the BJD leader said the Centre has cut Rs 20,000 crore from paddy procurement. The procurement target, which was earlier 17-18 lakh tonne per year, has been reduced to 4 lakh tonne for Odisha. “It will only lead to procurement in one district of Odisha. What will happen to the rest 29 districts? Lakhs of farmers will be affected,” he added.

He also raised the issue of withdrawing the 5 kg free rice scheme for poor, incomplete coastal highway, Cuttack-Sambalpur National Highway and neglect of the state by the Railways.

“Instead of working for elections, if you work for development, you will have something to show for the past 9 years. Before 2019 General Elections and 2022 Panchayat elections, you did politics on sensational cases and went to the people with all sorts of false narrative. But the voters rejected you for such low-level politics,” Patra said.

“The strategy of politicising crime doesn’t work and people have faith in the government. People of Odisha have rejected it in past and will also reject it in future. Focus on your work and do something for people,” he advised.