Tension erupts in Bijepur ahead of Modi's 'Mann ki baat' programme today

Bargarh: Much ahead of the broadcast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' programme today, tension erupted at the Bijepur bus stand area here late on Saturday night as the BJP and the BJD activists reportedly engaged in tearing posters of each other's party.

As per reports, the BJP had made arrangements at the bus stand area to air the PM's programme which some BJD activists opposed stating that they also had scheduled a programme at the same venue. Later, activists of both the parties vandalised each other's arrangements at the spot.

“We have taken permission for the programme but the BJD party members are intentionally creating problems. It’s unfortunate that the local police are also supporting them,” alleged Leader of the BJP legislature party, K V Singhdeo.

However, Labour Minister Sushant Singh refuted the BJP’s allegation. “We have not scheduled any programme at the said venue. The BJP has become ‘used to’ blaming us,” he said.

The BJP has made arrangements in all the 270 booths in bypoll-bound Bijepur constituency to bring together people for listening to PM Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' programme on All India Radio today.

Senior leaders, including Union Ministers Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan, Basant Panda and all the MLAs of the party are likely to be present in the booths and will listen to the Prime Minister and address people after the programme gets over.

The Bijepur Assembly seat has remained vacant since August 22 following the death of its sitting Congress MLA Subal Sahu.

Meanwhile, the bypoll dates are yet to be announced.

Earlier, the ruling BJD had ridiculed the BJP's plan and claimed that the programme will have no impact on the people.