By taking up the cause of agitating lawyers with the Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh, the BJP State unit has given a message to the BJD that it would not spare the regional party even as its MPs give crucial support the NDA Government on several occasions.
Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged Singh to consider the State Government’s proposal to abolish the SAT in the context of issues raised by the SAT Bar Associations and also keep in mind the interest of State Government employees.
The State Cabinet under chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on September 9 has decided to abolish SAT, a move opposed by lawyers. While the lawyers have been agitating since September 10, they got a ray of hope in Pradhan, who helped them in taking up the matter with the Centre.
The State Government cannot abolish the SAT without permission from the State High Court and the Centre. Therefore, by extending support to the legal fraternity, Pradhan has given a clear message to lawyers that the BJP stands by them even as the BJD Government wants to abolish the SAT. In political circle, Pradhan’s move is considered as a direct confrontation of the NDA Government with the BJD Government.
