Yadav, Pradhan condemn attack on Gangwar’s vehicle

Cuttack: In the wake of the attack on the vehicle of Union minister Santosh Gangwar during the Vikash Utsav celebrated by the BJP in Bargarh on Friday, two Union ministers came down heavily on the state government on Sunday.

“It is a very unfortunate incident which took place in Bargarh where a group of people attacked and damaged the vehicle of Union Textiles minister Santosh Gangwar. I had never seen such incident anywhere in the country,” Union Drinking Water and Sanitation minister Ram Kripal Yadav told media persons after his arrival at the Biju Patnaik airport here this morning.

Referring to politics in Bihar, he said though the political differences in that state are high, there is no goondaism among the parties. “But the incident which took place in Bargarh is open hooliganism. The Union Home minister has expressed grave concern over the incident. All I can say is that the politics of this kind can be possible only in Odisha, not in any other part of this country. I strongly condemn this incident,” he added.

Asked whether he feels that security should be beefed up for him, Yadav said “I am not concerned over the security provisions. Ram Kripal Yadav is a common man. If he is attacked, the people Odisha will save him”.

In his reaction, Union Petroleum and chemicals minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who accompanied Yadav, said the ruling party (BJD) friends have adopted an undemocratic method of protest. “The people of Odisha always believe in democratic process. Slippers, sticks, stones and using filthy language are utterly undemocratic methods and those who practice these methods have an autocratic mentality. May God give them the wisdom,” he noted.