Priya

Angul: Pallahara MLA Mahesh Sahu has come under scanner after he allegedly threatened a group of protestors during Health Minister Pratap Jena’s visit to the constituency on August 14.

As per reports, Sahu was seated along with the minister when a group of BJP activists stopped their vehicle and showed black flags to Jena protesting poor healthcare services in the area.

“Instead of addressing the issue, the MLA threatened to teach us a lesson. This is not expected of a people’s representative who has been voted to power by the people of this constituency. Instead of threatening us, he should have pursued the minister to get down the vehicle and listen to our problems. This kind of conduct towards protests for genuine reasons is unbecoming of a leader,” said Ashok Mohanty, State Executive Member, BJP.

Earlier on Tuesday, hundreds of locals led by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists took to streets and tried to stop the carcade of the health minister who was on his way to attend a programme of Biju Yuva Vahini.

The protestors wanted to hold discussion on absence of doctors and lack of infrastructure at various hospitals in the town.

"When the minister refused to get down from his vehicle for discussion, a few irate locals waived black flags to register their protest. Pallahara MLA Mahesh Sahu who was seated inside the car along with the minister, pointed his fingers towards us and threatened us of dire consequences," informed a local BJP member.

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It may be noted that a similar black flag protest was launched against Jena during his visit to the district in May this year.

On the other hand, Sahu has justified his act saying that the protestors behaved in an unruly manner.

“Those who were protesting do not understand the real meaning of black-flag protest and how it should be launched. Our party members are disciplined and hence there was no scuffle. Has it been any other party or another place, the situation would have gone out of control,” said Sahu.

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