Bhubaneswar: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today accused the BJP of "dishonouring" martyrs families by inviting some "fake" persons to be felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"It is a matter of great shame that fake persons were felicitated by Modi here in the name of honouring the freedom fighters families," BJD spokesman and former minister S N Patro said in a statement.
Local people resented the felicitation of three alleged "fake" persons by the prime minister during his visit to Odisha on the occasion of the BJP's national executive meeting on April 16.
Modi, on last Sunday had felicitated family members of 16 freedom fighters, who fought in 1817 Paika rebellion in Odisha against the British rule.
Modi honoured the family members of freedom fighters - Jayee Rajguru, Buxi Jagabandhu, Samant Madhab Chandra Routray, Pindiki Bahubalendra, Krutibas Patsani, Dama Subudhi Mangaraj, Chakra Bisoyee, Rendo Majhi, Veer Surendra Sai, Chakhi Khuntia, Madho Singh, Raghunath Mohanty, Dibakar Parida, Laxman Nayak, Laxmi Indira Panda and Dinabandhu Samantray Mohapatra.
However, Patro pointed out that the three of the 16 martyrs families are "fake" for which local people have been resenting. The three fake persons have received felicitation from prime minister fraudulently claiming themselves as the family members of Jayee Rajguru of Puri district, Chakara Bisoyee of Ganjam district and Rendo Majhi of Kalahandi district.
"It is an unfortunate incident. How come the so-called nationalist party failed to recognise the real family members of the martyrs? Above all, the three martyrs were unmarried," Patro said.
The BJD also condemned the alleged humiliation of the family members of INA captain Laxmi Indira Panda's family members who had come to attend the felicitation programme.
Panda's son, daughter-in-law and grandson were separated at the Bhubaneswar railway station on their return journey to Jeypore in Koraput district. While Panda's daughter-in-law was located at Balasore railway station, her grandson Babuli is yet to the traced.
Panda's family members today sat on a dharna in front of Koraput sub-collector's residence demanding to know whereabouts of their son.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had, meanwhile asked the Director General of Police to trace Panda's grandson who went missing after attending the Prime Minister's felicitation programme.