Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to take appropriate action against those involved in the attack on the convoy of two Central Ministers in Bargarh on Friday. Singh also asked Patnaik to ensure that such untoward incidents were not repeated in future.
“HM spoke to CM Odisha regarding the incident of attack over the Union Ministers Shri Santosh Gangwar & Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti. The HM has asked CM Odisha to look into the incident and ensure the safety and security of the Union Ministers visiting the State,” the HMO (the Home Minister’s Office) tweeted.
The HMO further tweeted, “The Home Minister also advised CM Shri Naveen Patanaik to take appropriate action and prevent any such untoward incident in future.”
Meanwhile, accusing Chief Minister Patnaik of masterminding the attack on Gangwar, the saffron party sought the Governor’s intervention on Saturday. An 11-member delegation of the party led by its State general secretary Bhrugu Baxipatra and Prithviraj Harichandan called on Governor SC Jamir and submitted a memorandum to him seeking strong action against the attackers. Harichandan held the district administration responsible for the breach in security of the Union Minister.
He alleged that local MP Prabash Singh, local MlA Debesh Acharya and Minister Snehangini Chhuuria, who belongs to the district, were responsible for the attack.
BJP activists held demonstrations in different district headquarters denouncing the BJD’s attack on Union Ministers. They burnt effigies of Chief Minister Patnaik and other BJD leaders.
On Friday, stones were pelted at the convoys of Union Textiles Minister Santosh Gangwar and Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti by scores of BJD supporters when the Ministers were on their way to Bargarh to attend the BJP’s Vikash Utsav observing the second anniversary of the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government at the Centre.