The district units of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress on Friday staged a massive protest against the 5T secretary ahead of his visit to Bari in Jajpur district.
Under the leadership of Congress leader Aarati Deo, a large number of party workers carrying black balloons and raising slogans ‘Pandian go back’ took out a rally and staged a demonstration at Bank Square.
Similarly, under the leadership of BJP leader Mukunda Mohanty, the BJP workers staged a protest demonstration at the Brahmabarada Khandas Square. The party workers were intercepted by the police at Bank Square while marching towards the meeting place.
“We have Collectors in all the districts to hear people’s grievances. They are holding grievance meetings on the last Monday of every month. Who is he (the 5T secretary) to conduct grievance meetings? Are our Ministers and Collectors not eligible to hear people’s grievances? The women members of the SHGs who have come to the meeting are ignorant about the programme. They even don’t know why they have come. Giving a sum of Rs 10,000 to each group, the group members are being forced to attend such meetings,” alleged Congress leader Aarati Deo.
When asked, BJP leader Mohanty said, “It is strange that putting aside the Ministers and MLAs, a secretary is visiting districts by air, spending crores of rupees. We are condemning this.”