Willing To Take Bullets, Says V K Pandian After Tomato Attack In Odisha’s Ganjam

Berhampur: A youth allegedly hurled tomatoes at 5T chairman & BJD leader V K Pandian during ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’ programme at Belaguntha in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Thursday.

The tomatoes missed Pandian but BJD workers overpowered and thrashed the youth, who is believed to be a Congress activist belonging to Belaguntha block.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident took place when Pandian reached the stage around 11.30 am. Police immediately arrested the youth and the programme went on as scheduled. “You can throw eggs, tomatoes & ink at me or even fire bullets but it would not stop me from meeting and serving the people of Odisha,” Pandian told the gathering reacting to the development.

Pandian has faced black flag protests and egg attacks in the past. A person also threw ink at him during his visit to Satyabadi in Puri district in August, 2023, when he was serving as the secretary (5T) to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. He took voluntary retirement from service in October and joined the BJD, the following month.

The accused youth has reportedly been opposing various programmes of Pandian for the last few months. The Congress is yet to react to the incident. BJD has also not issued any statement on this incident.