Biju Janta Dal (BJD) leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Munna Khan and former BJD MLA Bibhuti Balabantaray received a shower of eggs on their carcade by Congress members while they were on their way to distribute Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) smart health cards at Daruthenga on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
As per reports, the Congress workers were miffed with the local administration for not inviting local MLA Sura Routray and local MP Aparajita Sarangi to the event while Munna Khan and Bibhuti Balabantaray were invited. They alleged that the ruling BJD was trying to turn a government event into a party (BJD) event as no govt officials and local leaders were present at the function.
The Congress activists also showed black flags to Khan and Balabantaray as a mark of protest while hurling eggs at their arcade.
Reportedly, BJD workers went into a scuffle with Congress activists during the protest. Following which, a few Congress workers threw stones at the carcade leading to the escalation of tension.
According to reports, few Congress members sustained grievous injuries during their clash with the BJD workers. As per sources, one of the workers has sustained head injury too.
The Congress workers alleged that the police were mere spectators to the hooliganism of BJD workers and didn't try to prevent it.
Meanwhile, Congress Leader Sura Routray has strongly condemned the attack by BJD activists on Congress members.
"If local MP and MLAs are not invited for the smart health card distribution event, then the local people will not tolerate it," said Routray.
“This is a trailer and if the government does not follow the protocols then we will intensify our protests,” he warned.