Senior Congress leader and Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati today slammed the BJD-led Odisha Government and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the brutal attack on a youth Congress leader allegedly by BJD workers during the launch of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BKSY) Smart Health card by the CM at Kuchinda in Sambalpur district on Tuesday.
Addressing a presser in Bhubaneswar, Bahinipati said that the incident gives a sense that democracy does not exist in the State. “Else, the BJD workers would not have dared to launch the murderous attack on Youth Congress president of Kuchinda sub-division Jayant Kumar Kishan,” he said.
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Earlier yesterday, Kishan sustained severe injuries on his back and was admitted to the Kuchinda Sub-Divisional Hospital after he was brutally attacked by a mob, reportedly comprising workers of the BJD, in presence of police. The incident occurred when the Congress workers took out a rally protesting the Chief Minister's silence over the Mamita Meher murder case and demanded the removal of Minister of State for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra.
"The murder of the lady school teacher at Kalahandi is a condemnable act. However, the CM is silent. Therefore, I request the CM Naveen to tender his resignation on moral grounds. Besides, Minister of State for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra should be dismissed and arrested," said Bahinipati.
Similarly, condemning the alleged inability of the police apartment to take action against the 'BJD goons', Bahinipati said, "A Congress worker was thrashed in front of police. DGP has failed in maintaining law and order. Therefore, he too should tender his resignation," he demanded.
Accusing the BJD and BJP of having a nexus, the senior Congress leader said, "BJD was silent on fuel price hike earlier. However, it took to streets after the Dibya Shankar's issue escalated. BJP-BJD are two sides of the same coin but are doing drama in front of public," alleged Bahinipati.
Reacting to the incident of attack on the Congress leader yesterday, BJD Vice-President Debi Prasad Mishra said, "I don’t know details of the matter. However, the incident is saddening and the main culprit has been arrested. The CM and the BJD have always taken the right stand and law will take its own course. Appropriate action will be taken against the accused," Mishra added.