Political Activists Treated Like Criminals, Dharmendra On ‘Police Excesses’ During BJP Yuva Morcha Rally

Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday termed the attack on members of BJP Yuva Morcha during the Tuesday rally over Naba Das murder and deteriorating law and order situation in Odisha capital, as unprovoked, one-sided and arbitrary.

Criticising what he called the ‘police attack’, he accused the police administration of working to safeguard the interest of the ruling party instead of 4.5 crore people of Odisha. “The manner is which some police officers are acting unilaterally is a threat to the system and does not augur well for a well-functioning democracy,”

While condemning the excessive action taken by the police, Dharmendra further said that the political activists were treated like ‘criminals’ when it was well within their right to protest in a democracy. “The Yuva Morcha members are activists of a political party, but the police treated them as criminals, which is worrying,” he said.

On Tuesday, the protest rally turned violent when police prevented BJYM activists from marching towards the Assembly.While the Yuva Morcha workers reportedly pelted police with stones, eggs and water pouches, the latter resorted to lathi-charge to disperse them. Besides BJP activities, several policemen, including DSP Amitabh Mohapatra, and journalists were injured in the clash.