Bhawanipatna: Three ministers in Naveen Patnaik-led government faced a flurry of egg attacks as the opposition intensified its protests for the resignation of Minister of State for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra over his alleged closed links with the main accused in Mamita Meher murder case, during the Chief Minister’s visit to Odisha’s Kalahandi.
According to sources, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress workers waved black flags and hurled eggs at Women and Child Development Minister Tukuni Sahu’s car at Narla. The incident took place while she was returning from the CM programme for the distribution of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) smart health cards at the OUAT premises in Bhawanipatna.
Notably, Congress and BJP workers had locked up the minister in a dak bungalow in Kuchinda on November 3 during the bandh called by the two parties to protest against the alleged attack on a Youth Congress leader by BJD activists.
Eggs were also hurled at the vehicle of Labour Minister Susanta Singh at Jaipatna.
Tourism Minister Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi’s vehicle was pelted with eggs by protesters near Pandigaon while he was returning from a programme at Kalampur.
BJP workers also scuffled with police while attempting to barge inside the venue where Higher Education Minister Arun Sahoo was distributing BSKY smart cards to the people of Kesinga.
The saffron party also staged a black flag protest at MSA Chhak in Bhawanipatna and raised “Naveen, Go Back” slogans ahead of the CM’s visit.
On November 7, Mishra was shown black flags during his visit to Junagarh. Eggs were also hurled at his vehicle. He is in the eye of the storm since pictures of his with the prime accused, Govind Sahu, surfaced. He is accused of patronising Sahu and attempting to broker a deal between him and the victim at his Raipur residence. It is also being alleged that he frequently visited the school run by Sahu.
