Bhubaneswar: Condemning the violence at the plant of Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd (IMFA) in Therubali of Rayagada district, BJP MLA Pradeep Purohit raised the issue in Odisha Assembly today and accused the State government of not providing security to factory of an Odia industrialist.
"It is due to some political discord, people are being instigated in Rayagada since last three days to protest and ransack the properties of an organisation like IMFA, which is working towards development of the State. Such hooliganism is happening in presence of police. There are many organisations that are not providing jobs to local people and looting crores of rupees from the State. Why are they not protesting against them? Not providing security to a homegrown industry is unfortunate," said Purohit.
Similarly, Odisha Congress Chief Niranjan Patnaik said "Odisha govt should maintain law & order. Innocent tribals are being instigated to settle political scores. It will worsen the already stagnant industrial development of the State. The government should avoid shallow politics & discharge its duties."
On the other hand, Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda rued the inaction of the administration on his twitter handle saying while police can detain a woman attempting to stage dharna in front of the official residence of Chief Minister’s private secretary, V Karthikeyan Pandian, why is it not taking action against the mob of violent protestors who have trapped hundreds of families since four days.
"A lone woman detained for wanting to protest outside the home of Pandian, yet police doing nothing to control mob of violent protestors who have surrounded a company employees' colony in S.Odisha, with hundreds of families, women & children now trapped for 4 days!" tweeted Panda.
The MD & CEO of IMFA, Subhrakant Panda in reply to a follower seeking help in connection with the matter, tweeted, "Most unfortunate that women & children are being held hostage for 4 days now... We are doing our best - pls stay strong and have faith in Jagannath Mahaprabhu."