Paradip: Dussehra festivities turned into a slanging match between BJP and BJD in Odisha’s Paradip with the former using Ravana as a metaphor to ridicule the latter.
While attending Ravana Podi event at Paradip, Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Swain, in an indirect dig at BJD, spoke about ‘human-faced Ravanas’ unleashing violence in Paradip. “There has been a change in government after 24 years with the blessings of people of Odisha. Since this government is working for the people, the human-faced Ravanas are feeling the heat. They have indulged in politics over unfortunate incidents like death of a worker. These murderers and conspirators have been roaming free. Things have changed now. There is no place for violence in Paradip. Such people will be given a befitting reply and shown their place,” he said, while making a reference to the murder of Seaways Shipping manager Mahendra Swain and Munna Pati.
Swain further said that former BJD leader Damodar Rout was a self-respecting politicians and kept people, who were allegedly involved in murders, at an arm’s length. “He will be shedding tears from heaven on seeing his son mingling with such people and seemingly furthering his political game with them,” he said.
Responding to these allegations, former Paradip MLA Sambit Routray said that his father must be upset but about the current state of affairs in Odisha under the present government. “One cannot become Ram by just burning the effigy of Ravana. In this modern world, everyone is a Ravana. It is Ravana who is burning Ravana. Time will tell if BJD will lose its identity or bounce back as a stronger force,” he added.
He also asked Swain to name the Ravanas with whom he accused him of roaming around.
