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Bhubaneswar: Top political leaders cutting across party lines have condemned the repeated vindictive attacks and action against OTV and its employees by sets of law enforcement agencies and administrative officials allegedly at the behest of Odisha government.
Leaders from major opposition parties including Congress and BJP slammed the Odisha government and the Odisha Crime Branch which picked up OTV’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Manoranjan Sarangi in the wee hours before he was put under arrested later in the evening, today.
Reacting sharply on the developments, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) working president, Pradeep Majhi said, “It is not the first instance when OTV, its employees and editors are being harassed. The attack on media is not a healthy sign in a democracy.”
Majhi further stated, “OTV is the most popular and leading channel in Odisha and we condemn such attack on the channel. It is the duty of every media house to telecast news truthfully. The Congress party condemns such attack on OTV.”
OTV CFO picked up by Crime Branch without notice & case: Repeated attacks on the most popular media house in #Odisha is unfortunate. Congress condemns such acts. People are with OTV, says OPCC Working President Pradeep Majhi pic.twitter.com/gUnhx6uixo
— OTV (@otvnews) November 1, 2020
Also Read: OTV Targeted Again: Crime Branch Arrests OTV CFO Over Alleged Land Issue
Senior Congress MP, Saptagiri Ulaka also condemned the way OTV CFO was forcibly picked up by Crime Branch officials from his residence after he was woken up from his sleep.
“It seems the Odisha government is scared and trying to hide something,” he said.
“From what we are seeing in the last couple of months, we think it is vendata politics by Odisha government which is trying to supress the freedom of expression and other Fundamental Rights enshrined in our Constitution,” said Ulaka.
Ulaka further stated that people of Odisha have understood the ulterior motive behind such actions by the State government.
“Though we want law to take its own course, we are warning the Odisha government from indulging in such kind of vendetta politics by the Naveen Patnaik government,” Ulaka added.
OTV CFO picked up by Crime Branch without notice & case: Koraput MP Saptagiri Ulaka terms the police excess unfortunate. The State govt is scared as it seems to be trying to hide something. Fundamental rights are being violated. This vindictive politics by govt is reprehensible. pic.twitter.com/JTzHbay7LD
— OTV (@otvnews) November 1, 2020
Earlier, Bhubaneswar MP, Aparajita Sarangi had said, “I do not know how to react as a television news channel is doing its duty by highlighting irregularities. I fail to understand whether the Odisha government is afraid or it wants to hide something,” questioned the Bhubaneswar MP, adding, “ Vinash Kale Viprit Buddhi (As doom approaches, the person’s intellect works against him/her).
Aparajita Sarangi added that as the most popular news channel in the State, OTV is presenting the truth by exposing the lacunas in governance. The employees of the channel are working diligently and with transparency.
OTV CFO picked up by police without notice & case: BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi expresses shock over the incident; says, “If a news channel is highlighting irregularities, #Odisha govt should initiate corrective measures & shun its vindictive approach against its employees" pic.twitter.com/UEv1Zkiz84
— OTV (@otvnews) November 1, 2020
Senior BJP leader and Sundergarh MP, Jual Oram said, “The vindictive action against OTV is a dastardly attempt to throttle the voice of media in the State.”
What's happening in Odisha today is damaging the very fabric of our constitution.
Welcome to my state, where state govt machineries violate your basic human rights to satisfy the ego of the man in the high castle.
Apana mane khusi tah? https://t.co/6IkNp48eMm
— Litisha Mangat (@litisha_mangat) November 1, 2020
Union Minister, Pratap Sarangi said it is unexpected to hope justice from the BJD government in Odisha.
“When the Tehsildar was transferred after he clearly stated that there has been no land encroachment. Now OTV’s CFO has been arrested which shows that it is a vindictive action. The Odisha government has abused its power and the crime branch (police),” said Sarangi.
OTV CFO arrest by Crime Branch: Union Minister Pratap Sarangi terms the act, 'extremely condemnable'; says it is futile to expect justice from the ruling BJD govt in #Odisha. This is a vindictive approach & gross abuse of Crime Branch by denying natural justice to citizens. pic.twitter.com/LgL2wrZNIR
— OTV (@otvnews) November 1, 2020
BJP leader Jatin Mohanty said, “The way OTV’s CFO was picked up without any notice from his residence is totally unjustified. It is an attempt by the Odisha government to muzzle the voice of media. In Odisha, the State government has stooped low and is deliberating targeting OTV. It is high time that everybody should condemn such coercive acts of the State.”
Arrest of OTV CFO Manoranjan Sarangi by Odisha Crime Branch is illegal & undemocratic. It seems to be another glaring example of the State govt's efforts to suppress voice of independent media. This govt seems to have surpassed even the tyranny of Hitler: BJP's Jatin Mohanty pic.twitter.com/WbO7hWQl0F
— OTV (@otvnews) November 1, 2020
OTV CFO Arrested by #Odisha Crime Branch:
State BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan says the act is a reflection of the desperation of the State Govt afraid to save its position. The govt has gone out of control & the CM should now answer who is running the State
— OTV (@otvnews) November 1, 2020
Also Read: OTV CFO Picked Up By Police Without Notice; Family In Shock As Police Act Like Goons