War of words intensifies between BJD and BJP over downgrading of Naveen Patnaik’s security 

The downgrading of former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik’s security from Z to Y category has fuelled a war of words between the Opposition BJD and the ruling BJP. 

Taking strong exception to the state government’s move, BJD leader Sanjay Das Burma on Saturday said the government should make sure that no lapses should be there in Naveen Patnaik’s security. 

“The state government’s attitude has left me surprised. I am shocked. It should be the government’s accountability of the government that there should be no lapse in the security of Naveen Patnaik, a five-time Chief Minister and the Leader of Opposition. Unfortunately, his security has been downgraded. I hope the government would amend the fault it has made,” said Das Burma. 

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Responding to Das Burma’s statements, BJP leader Jaynarayan Mishra said what the government has done is according to the rule applicable to an Opposition leader. 

“When I was the Leader of Opposition, they hadn’t provided me any security. Then why are they expecting security for him? There is a rule as to who will get Z security and who will get Y security. And the government has done in accordance with the rule,” said Mishra.

Meanwhile, Police DG YB Khurania termed the downgrading of Naveen Patnaik’s security as a regular process. 

“It’s a regular process. The state-level committee reviews it from time to time and a decision is taken as per the field assessment,” said the DGP.