Chilika MLA Prashant Jagdev allegedly mowed down several people near Banpur block office in Khordha on Saturday. The incident has drawn sharp reactions from across Odisha with the Opposition demanding stern action against the suspended BJD leader.
Condemning the incident, senior BJP leader Prithviraj Harichandan said the Chilika MLA mowed down people in an inebriated condition to threaten them. "Act like this is never done by a person with a sound mind and the only place for such people is jail," he said.
He also demanded immediate action against Jagdev and said, "We hope the Odisha government will take stern action against the legislator."
Disapproving both the conduct of the MLA and the people, former Odisha Congress Chief Sharat Patnaik said, “The Congress party has been the biggest advocator of Ahimsa, and all parties and political leaders should abide by this. The whole of India and Odisha in particular is a peace-loving state. There is no space for violence.”
“The Home Department is under the Chief Minister himself. He should take this incident seriously and initiate action against whosoever is responsible,” Patnaik added.
Senior Congress leader Suresh Routray also condemned the incident. Terming Jagdev a habitual offender, Routray said, “There are several such allegations against the MLA. This kind of behaviour does not suit an elected people's representative.”
“There is no place for violence in a democracy. Be it an MLA or a common man, violence is unacceptable. We condemn the incident and, in fact, all the political parties should condemn it,” said BJD MLA Debi Prasad Mishra.
BJD Spokesperson Sasmit Patra said, "We condemn the way Chilika MLA Prashant Jagdev rammed his vehicle into the crowd. Our party reiterates that there is no place for violence in democracy. We hope that Odisha Police and the administration will take appropriate legal steps against the accused.”
Patra further said that Jagdev has been suspended from BJD due to such behaviour in the past. “The party has already side-lined the MLA and appropriate action will be taken in connection with today’s incident. We pray for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident,” he added.
Condemning the incident, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi demanded stringent action against MLA Prashant Jagdev within 48 hours. "This incident is a blatant act of political violence and deteriorating law and order situation in Odisha," she said.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan termed the incident first of its kind in the State and urged the government to immediately take stringent action against the accused.