Pradeep Pattanayak

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday took a swipe at the elected representatives of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for being at the beck and call of the 5T secretary, who is scheduled to visit Joranda shrine in Dhenkanal on Monday. 

Addressing a press conference at the district party office, former MLA Krushna Chandra Patra said, “I condemn the way the government is being run by bureaucrats. Specifically, I would like to request the elected representatives to maintain their dignity. Here ministers and elected representatives will command respect.”

Taking Patra’s side, former MP Rudra Pani too hit out at the BJD condemning the preparations to welcome the 5T secretary. The way the preparations are being made to welcome the 5T secretary is not a good sign for democracy, said Pani, adding that the point of discussion is that the 5T secretary is visiting Dhenkanal without the Chief Minister’s knowledge. 

Without taking the name of the conch party, the saffron party also alleged that the proposed visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Joranda on the occasion of the 150th Magha Mela was knowingly foiled. 

On the other hand, the BJD launched a counter-attack against the BJP. They ( BJP leaders) perhaps don’t want to see the development of Joranda which is why they (BJP leaders) are talking these baseless things, the BJD said.

  • Reported by:
  • Rajashree Satpathy
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