BJD protests BJP's Vikas Utsav in Bargarh

Bargarh: Members of the ruling BJD took out a bike rally in the town this morning protesting against the move of the BJP to observe Vikas Utsav, the countywide celebration of two years of the Narendra Modi government, here today.

Party activists also allegedly ransacked the Meher saree show room in the city, where Union Textile Minister Santosh Gangwar is scheduled to hold discussion with some weavers later today.

At a meeting chaired by local MLA Debesh Acharya yesterday, the ruling party had decided not to allow Gangwar and minister of state for Food Processing Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti to enter the town in protest against the continued neglect of the district considered the rice bowl of Odisha.

Prime Minister NarendrA Modi had disappointed the people of the district by failing to announce an increase the minimum support price for paddy during his visit here in February, Acharya had said. When the increase did come 15 days, it was only Rs 60 per quintal, he had pointed out.

Besides Gangwara and Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, former Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda and other senior leaders are also scheduled to attend the commemorative event.

The BJP has already held Vikas Utsav celebrations in Balasore, Rourkela, Bhubaneswar and Brahmapur.