'Cheap Politics': After potato tussle, Odisha tourists now being harassed in West Bengal

After an unofficial ban on export of potatoes, tourists from Odisha are now being allegedly harassed in the neighbouring state of West Bengal.

Such unacceptable incidents have been termed by experts as 'cheap politics' of the Mamata Banerjee government which has already prohibited export of potatoes to Odisha following formation of BJP government in the state.

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Hundreds of tourists from Odisha's Balasore district were reportedly harassed and their vehicles were also damaged by some locals of the neighbouring state on Tuesday.

“When it comes to the interests of the people of the country, no state government should resort to such cheap politics. Protecting the interest of the citizens should be the priority of any political party. Such attacks will only intensify hate. Government of both the states should resolve the issues amicably as soon as possible,” said a political expert. 

Who & Why Odisha Tourists Were Attacked

Around 50 tourists in three SUVs from Mitrapur in Balasore’s Nilagiri area had gone to Khadika under Keshpur police limits in Medinipur district of West Bengal. They apart, some other tourists from Balasore had also gone there in two buses.

Surprisingly, they were allegedly detained by some locals there who also damaged their vehicles. Distressed over the harassment, the stranded Odia people released video message seeking immediate help for their release.

Soon after the incident, Balasore MP intervened into the matter following a discussion with Odisha CM Mohan Majhi and the stranded tourists were rescued safely. 

What The Harassed Odisha Tourists & Police Say

Pradip Nayak, a tourist, said, "We had gone to a Kabiraj there to treat our ailments. Soon after we reached there, a group of people surrounded our vehicle and threatened to thrash us alleging that some residents of West Bengal are being harassed in Odisha. They even threatened to torch our vehicle. Later, we were rescued by police."

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Sandeep Panigrahi, another tourist said, "We had gone to Kharika village in West Medinapur. Around 300 people in three SUVs, two buses and one car had come to the Kabiraj for treatment. But as soon as we reached there, we were gheraoed by a group of local people who thrashed the bus drivers and attempted to damage our vehicles…We were surrounded by more than 1000 people while being rescued by the West Bengal police."

"Several tourists from Odisha have gone to West Bengal in three SUVs, two buses and one car. They have been brought to Odisha through Laxmannath gate. We are making all necessary arrangements to help them reach their destination," said a senior police officer on Tuesday.

The Situation Calls For Restraint & Patience…

Commenting on the development, Sandeep Sahu, senior journalist, said, "As they say, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. And yesterday's incident in Medinipur is just another instance of it. The detention of nearly 300 Odias in West Bengal was clearly in retaliation for the targeting of Bengalis in our state.”

“The volatile situation on either side of the West Bengal-Odisha border following the unrest in Bangladesh calls for restraint and patience from the people on both sides,” added Sahu.

Potato Politics

Recently West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee directed to halt potato supply temporarily to Odisha leading to a rise in the price of the kitchen essential in the State.

Even though Odisha CM Mohan Majhi had a discussion with his WB counterpart during NITI Aayog meeting in Delhi, the impasse could not be resolved.

Rather, the WB government installed CCTV cameras along its border to check the movement of potato-laden trucks to Odisha through alternate routes.

As the politics over potato continues to deepen, Odisha government is procuring potatoes from Uttar Pradesh and planning to get it from Punjab if required.