BJP activists hurl eggs at Maharathy’s vehicle, 8 detained

Bolangir: At least eight activists of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were detained by the police for allegedly hurling eggs at the vehicle of Odisha Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy near a level crossing here on Tuesday.

Sources said, the party workers are being interrogated by the police.

The incident happened when the minister was on his way to Bolangir and his vehicle was halting near the Sudapada level crossing. All of a sudden some activists of the saffron party appeared on the scene and started pelting eggs at the vehicle, locals said. The eggs apparently didn’t hit the minister as the glass panes of his vehicle were closed.

Before the minister could understand, the activists fled the spot.

However, the police on being informed by the locals managed to nab the offenders.

Reacting on the incident, Maharathy said, “I have nothing to say about this. This is the inner voice of the people.”

Asked whether today’s incident was a fallout of the attacks on BJP leaders made by BJD supporters in Manamunda and Bargarh earlier this year, the minister said, “The party workers should not have done this. I condemn those incidents.”