Odisha BJP Pillories Naveen Patnaik On Bhadrak Violence Remarks; Alleges Attempt To Create Unrest

Bhubaneswar: A war of words has erupted between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha over the recent violence in Bhadrak district over a Facebook post.

While BJD president and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly Naveen Patnaik targeted the government over the violent incidents, BJP reacted sharply accusing the regional party of trying to create unrest in the state.

The faceoff cropped up after BJD in its official X handle alleged that four incidents of communal unrest during the initial three months of the new BJP government have raised questions on its efficiency apart from tarnishing the image of Odisha.

Reacting sharply, the ruling BJP hit back and said it appears that such statements of Naveen Patnaik were intended to boost the morale of BJD workers. However, it is surprising that the former Chief Minister has stooped so low, it claimed.

While BJP in posts on X raised questions over the governance of the previous BJD government, state party spokesperson Anil Biswal in a press meet slammed Naveen over his performance during 24 years in power.

Stating that Naveen was the Chief Minister for 24 years at a stretch, BJP sought to know as to what he was doing during the Kandhamal riots. Similarly, the ruling party asked who was the Chief Minister during the riots in Bhadrak during Ram Navami in 2017.

BJD was also in power when riots took place during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in Sambalpur in 2021, it said, asking the BJD supremo to explain as to who had spread unrest in the state for 24 years. Naveen is now making communal statements for his party’s interest, it claimed.

The BJP in its posts on X further alleged that there are photographs of those arrested in connection with the Bhadrak violence with BJD MLAs. The accused are active and frontline members of BJD, it said.

The saffron party further alleged that Naveen Patnaik had himself given Rajya Sabha ticket to a conspirator of Kandhamal riots and made him MP.

As per the data of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Odisha was ranked third in the country in terms of communal violence in 2017, it said, adding that as per the NCRB data of 2022, there were more than 15 communal riots in Odisha in just one year.

“Was this a symbol of Naveen Babu’s good governance? Why was Naveen Babu silent when a former BJD MLA in Odisha gave protection to Raja Khan, the gangster and an accused of communal riot in Uttar Pradesh,” asked Biswal.