Bhubaneswar: Launching a scathing attack on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday said the chief minister has hurt the sentiments of Odias as well as Indians by participating in cultural programmes when the bodies of two Pulwama martyrs from the state reached here February 16.
Briefing the media here, state BJP secretary Lekhashree Samantsinghar said, “The day when the mortal remains of Prasanna Kumar Sahu of Jagatsinghpur and Manoj Behera of Niali, who were martyred in Pulwama terror attack, reached here, the chief minister was attending an entertainment programme organised under Mission Shakti scheme in Kalahandi district. He also ensured that the public gathered over there, enjoy the show. And this happened when thousands of Odias were standing along the roads with tearful eyes and paying tributes to the martyred jawans.”
“Devoid of Odia sentiment, Naveen Babu had hurt the patriotic spirit of Odisha’s people,” added the BJP leader.
Lekhashree also said the chief minister had also gone to Kendrapara to attend a programme on KALIA scheme the day following the dastardly attack by terrorists in Pulwama.
“Would it have angered the ‘Goonda Vahini’, had the CM cancelled the cultural programme as a mark of respect to the martyrs?” she remarked.
“Naveen Babu is quite insensitive to the grief and the tears of the Odias,” said Lekhashree adding, “words will not suffice in whichever way his leadership is criticised.”
