Parties Engage In Blame Game Over Attack On Journalists During Odisha Panchayat Polls

Bhubaneswar: Political leaders, cutting across party lines, on Thursday condemned the alleged attack on journalists in Jajpur districts during the third phase of Panchayat elections in Odisha.

The Opposition, however, blamed the ruling BJD for deteriorating the law and order situation in the state.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the frequent attacks on scribes is not a good sign and raise serious questions on the law and order situation. There can be disagreement in politics but there is no place for violence, he added.

Odisha BJP General Secretary Golak Mohapatra, however, directly blamed the BJD for sponsoring such attacks. “The growing support for BJP has made the Conch party intolerant and their supporters have gone on a booth capturing spree. Journalists, who are covering such attempts to rig the poll, are being brutally assaulted,” he said.

Violence during the polls are not confined to a few districts but are mostly going unreported, he added.

The Odisha Congress alleged that the government has gone soft on the assaulters. “A recurrence could have been prevented in Jajpur, had those who engaged in such acts of violence in Puri during the first phase been punished appropriately,” said Congress spokesperson Nishikant Mishra.

BJD Parliamentarian Subash Singh instead labelled it as a conspiracy against the ruling party. “The Opposition parties are trying to divert public opinion with such false allegations. We strongly condemn the attack on the journalists during the polling. Law will take its own course and stern actions will be taken against the culprits,” he said.

Organisational Secretary of BJD Pranab Prakash Das also tweeted to condemn the attack on the journalists. “There is no place for such acts of violence in a democracy. Odisha police will take strict action against the culprit in accordance with the law,” he added.

Notably, Police have so far arrested 28 persons in Jajpur, 6 in Dhenkanal district, 5 in Jagatsinghpur district and 23 in Puri district in connection with poll disruption incidents during the first two phases of elections.

Meanwhile, editors of several Odia media houses and senior journalists of the state on Sunday met the State Election Commissioner (SEC) and demanded strict actions against those involved in the attack on journalists during poll coverage in Jajpur, Nayagarh, and Kanas of Puri district.

Also Read: Journos, BDO & Cops Beaten Up, Ballot Boxes Looted During 3rd Phase Panchayat Polls In Odisha