Vikash Sharma

Major opposition parties, including the BJP and Congress on Monday targeted Odisha government over the assassination of health minister Naba Kishore Das in his own constituency in broad daylight yesterday.

Coming down heavily on the ruling BJD government over the deteriorating law and order situation, BJP general secretary, Prithviraj Harichandan said that Naba Das killed in broad daylight. It clearly speaks volumes about the existing law and order situation in Odisha and one can easily imagine the condition of the common man.

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“The minister's killing clearly shows that nobody is safe in the state. We have been hearing about such incidents in other states like Bihar and others. We hope that the Odisha government wakes up from slumber and takes steps to strengthen the law and order situation,” said Harichandan.

Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jayanarayan Mishra said, “The way the state health minister was killed has shocked the state. If the ASI was mentally ill, why he was given duty and given a revolver just a day before the incident? All such incidents create suspicion and hence the state government should hand over the probe to CBI.”

Congress MLA Santosh Singh Saluja said, “Till now we have not been able to understand how the Home Department in Odisha is functioning. Whenever a Minister is touring a place, SOP should have been followed.”

According to Saluja, the Intelligence should have been collected whether anybody is opposing the minister, plans of showing black flag or any other suspicious activities ahead of such scheduled tours of ministers.

“The way the ASI shot the minister, it clearly shows there is absolutely no law and order in Odisha. People are being killed inside jails and minister on road. Hence, the CM Naveen Patnaik should resign,” demanded Saluja.

Senior Congress leader, Narasingha Mishra also made some explosive statements regarding Naba Das’ assassination. “It is a preplanned murder and there must be some mystery behind it. It is totally not acceptable the way the accused ASI is being labeled as mentally ill. If the ASI was mentally ill, the state government is completely responsible for it. The killing clearly suggests that the intelligence unit is not working,” said Mishra.

Senior Congress leader, Suresh Routray said, “The state government should strengthen law and order so that such incidents do not recur. Else there is every possibility that CM, me, IAS, and others might also face similar consequences. Instead of crime branch inquiry, the state government should order a judicial probe into the murder of the health minister and the investigation should be conducted by a sitting judge of Orissa High Court.”

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