Suryap

Kendrapara: Support continued to pour in for former Kendrapara MP, Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda for the second day today after he was falsely dragged into controversy over flying of a helicopter over Chilika lake.

Terming it as a ‘conspiracy’, locals of Jagannathpur village under Patakura panchayat today staged a demonstration at Garadapur. Locals alleged that the charges levelled against the former MP are false and fabricated.

Members of the Royal Youth Club and villagers also joined the protest and later burnt an effigy of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Sources said Panda had visited the Royal Youth Club on September 15 and had discussed with them on several issues.

"As per the allegations, the former MP BaijayantPanda was at Chilika at 1:30 PM whereas the records provided by the authorities of the Bhubaneswar airport show that the former MP was at the airport at 1:26 PM. Besides, why the helicopter along with the hangar was sealed," questioned Prajesh Ranjan Naik, former Bangalapur sarpanch.

However, no comments could be received from the ruling-BJD over the demonstrations.

Earlier, some youths along with women under the banner of ‘Tangi-Salepur Sachetana Yuva, Chhatra and Mahila’ staged demonstration yesterday at Jangapatana under Madhyakachha Panchayat in Cuttack extending support to the former MP.

Similar demonstrations were held at Sangrampur Sasan village under Marshaghai block of Kendrapara district.

It is pertinent to mention that Puri police on September 17 had seized the former MP’s chopper on charges of flying over eco-sensitive zone in Chilika Lake on September 15.

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