BJD insensitive to martyred Pulwama jawans: BJP

Bhubaneswar: Odisha BJP secretary Lekhashree Samantsinghar today accused the Odisha government of being insensitive stating that at a time when the entire country was paying tributes to the jawans martyred in Pulwama attack, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was busy attending party programmes.

Terming CM Naveen as 'anti-national,' Lekhashree said that the BJD president was enjoying cultural programmes organised during BJD Samavesh when the martyred Odia jawans were being taken to their native villages for their last rites. At a time when the entire nation along with Odisha was in grief, the ruling-BJD organised Mission Shakti programmes in Kendrapara (February 15) and Kalahandi (February 16) and the CM himself was enjoying the cultural programmes featuring cine stars, she alleged.

"Such behaviour of CM Naveen is nothing short of making fun of the martyrs. Being engaged in such celebrations when the nation was dipped in tears is an act of gross insult," the saffron leader alleged, adding that the BJD's action has embarrassed Odias in front of the entire nation.

Responding to the allegations of Lekhashree, BJD spokesperson Sulochana Das said that the BJP leader should remember that her (Lekhashree) party leaders like Narendra Modi and Amit Shah were engaged in several government and party programmes even after the Pulwama attack; and even yesterday, in Odisha, Jana Adalat programme was organised by the BJP.

"It seems Lekhashree is either suffering from selective memory loss or is intentionally trying to hide the truth. Besides, her statements reflect that she is insecure within the party after induction of several new members," said Sulochana.