BJP, BJD take to streets on pet issues to maintain political stakes in state politics
BJD counters saffron party’s move by holding demonstrations of ‘Central neglect’
By Swagatika Bhutia
Bhubaneswar, Feb. 14: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday hit the streets in Odisha capital Bhubaneswar alleging deterioration in the law and order situation in the state.
The saffron party also demanded resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik holding him responsible for recent assassination of health minister Naba Kishore Das and rising atrocities against women and children in the state.
In the morning, the BJP leaders carrying banners and posters marched in the city streets, completely paralyzing the traffic. The protesting leaders alleged that there was absolute lawlessness across the province owing to inefficient handling of the situation by the CM who himself holds the home portfolio.
They blamed the CM for the recent assassination of state health minister and senior BJD leader Naba Kishore Das by an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) rank police officer at Brajarajnagar in western Odisha.
“The people of Odisha are unsafe under BJD rule headed by Naveen Patnaik. Hence, he should quit his position,” said Kalahandi Lok Sabha member Basant Panda.
The police had to struggle a lot to restore normalcy as the BJP strategically held demonstrations at five places – AG square, Jaydev Vihar, Palasuni, Khandagiri and Samantarapur – in Bhubaneswar.
“All of us see that the law and order situation has gone for a toss in Odisha. The way a cabinet minister (Naba Kishore Das) was killed in broad daylight on January 29 and the alarming rise in the rate of heinous crimes speak volumes about the failure of the Naveen Patnaik to maintain peace and order in the state,” said Babu Singh, the BJP Bhubaneswar unit president.
According to senior BJP leaders, the BJP will stage demonstrations in front of offices of district collector on Wednesday and stage a dharna in front of Raj Bhawan on February 16.
Countering the BJP, the ruling BJD also staged a demonstration against Centre’s policies. The BJD staged a demonstration and raised issues like reduction in the allocation of funds by Rs 20,000 crore in the annual budget for the year 2023-24, reduction in procurement of rice from 18 lakh metric tonnes (MT) to 4 lakh MT and discontinuance of 5 kg rice under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
Senior BJD leader, Debi Prasad Mishra said, “Today’s protest is for the poor man’s right. Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), it is the Centre’s responsibility to ensure food security. Even though Covid is almost over, its effects are still prevalent. Now a common cold and fever takes 9 to 10 days to subside and inflation is also on the rise. Under such circumstances, the Centre should restore the allotment of rice for another two years.”
According to Mishra, a massive deduction has been made in the budget for the procurement of rice by the Centre. “Farmer is yet to get the desired Minimum Support Price (MSP) and if there will be no proper food procurement, how will the farmers’ income be doubled?”
The BJD submitted a memorandum to the President through the Odisha Governor seeking restoration of food security rights of the poor.
Responding to BJP’s protest over the deteriorating law and order situation, Mishra said, “Everybody has the right to protest in a democracy. I think they (BJP) have hit the streets over Naba Kishore Das’ murder case and they should have waited for the outcome of the probe and there are also appropriate forums to discuss the matter.”
