Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, June 26: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not missing out on any opportunity to attack the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) over the stone pelting at the cavalcade of Union minister Santosh Gangwar during the Vikash Utsav celebrated by the BJP in Bargarh June 24.
Three Union ministers who are in the state Sunday came down heavily on the state government and the ruling BJD, while the BJP said it would take to the streets on the issue.
Union defence minister Manhor Parriker condemned the attack on the convoy. “The state government is feeling insecure. The ground is slipping from under their feet. They are doing these things out of fear. Whatever happened in Bargarh was preplanned,” he told mediapersons here.
“I am the defence minister of the country. If anyone has guts, let him face me,” Parrikar dared the BJD.
“It is a very unfortunate incident that took place in Bargarh where a group of people attacked and damaged the vehicle of Union textiles minister Santosh Gangwar. I have never seen such an incident anywhere in the country,” Union drinking water and sanitation minister Ram Kripal Yadav told mediapersons after his arrival here Sunday morning.
Yadav said that this type of incidents do not take place in Bihar. Political differences are heightened in that state but there is no goondaism among parties, he said.
Petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan said an attack on Union ministers using slippers and sticks is not part of a democratic protest.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh had Saturday asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to take action against the culprits and ensure the safety of Union ministers vesting the state.
The state BJP has held a meeting of its office bearers to chalk out plans to take the issue to the next level. The party announced that it would stage a protest in all block headquarters June 29 and follow this up with a demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan July 4.
BJP MLA Pradeep Purohit, who was in Gangwar’s vehicle when it was stoned, said the attack was pre-planned. “BJD workers said they had got instructions from the party high command not to allow the central ministers into the district,” Purohit said.
However, BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb refuted the charged made by the BJP leaders and Union ministers. The BJP allegation of the BJD chief giving any direction or approval for any protest against the visiting Union ministers is baseless and the attack was not a preplanned programme of the BJD, he said.
“The decision to stage a peaceful protest against the ministers was taken by the Bargarh district unit of the BJD. This was because of weavers’ resentment against the Centre’s failure to provide them insurance cover and also because of discontent among farmers,” Deb said.
