Odisha Panchayati Raj Minister Faces Black-Badge Protest In Salepur Again

Cuttack: Odisha Panchayati Raj Minister Pratap Jena on Wednesday faced the wrath of BJP members during his visit to Salepur for inauguration of some developmental projects.

The BJD MLA from Mahanga visited Mala gram panchayat of Salepur to inaugurate 15 developmental projects commissioned with an estimated expenditure of Rs 1 crore and lay foundation stone for another project.

"Many developmental projects have been started and already inaugurated here. Our aim is to carry out more such development in Salepur constituency so that people get maximum benefits," said Jena during his visit.

However, the visit of Jena, whose name was embroiled in the death case of a BJP leader Kulamani Baral and his associate, did not go down well with the saffron party supporters.

Tying black clothes around their mouths, the BJP activists led by Raisunguda mandal president Bibhuti Bhusan Bhanuprasad staged protest in front of Salepur police station.

"As per the decision of district unit of BJP, we opposed the minister's programme in Salepur. Our demand is to bring the minister under the purview of the investigation immediately. Besides, he should be arrested and removed from the State cabinet," said Bhanuprasad.

The minister had encountered similar protest on January 30, during his visit to Salepur as hundreds of workers of BJP staged a sit-in outside Mahanga police station by covering their mouth with black clothes.

The minister was reportedly invited by the Works department for inauguration of a bridge in Kushupur of Mahanga when he was opposed by the BJP members.

(Edited By Pradeep Singh)