A high-level BJP delegation met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday in New Delhi seeking his intervention over the violence allegedly unleashed by the ruling BJD on its political opponents after the panchayat elections.
Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan, party national spokesperson Sambit Patra and many other senior leaders submitted a memorandum to Singh requesting him to reprimand the State Government for the increasing political violence.
Pradhan said they brought to Singh’s notice the condition of Parbati Sasmal of Kalikuda village under the Ersama police station in Jagatsinghpur district. The woman was brutally attacked by BJD goons for voting for the BJP in the panchayat elections. Though she lodged a case with the police on April 6, no action was taken against the accused.
During the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s road show in Bhubaneswar on April 15, Parbati submitted a petition to Modi which he accepted. This was reported in the media. later when she returned to her village, the BJD goons attacked her and the villagers. Till now, the police have not taken action against any one of the accused. Is it a crime to support a different political ideology in a democracy, questioned Pradhan.
The Minister said that after the rural polls process, ten incidents of political violence have been reported. As the ground under the feet of the BJD is slipping, the party has become blood thirsty and is indulging in violence. In this scenario, the Union Home Minister should interfere, demanded the delegation.
Among others, BJP State general secretary Pruthviraj Harischandan, State secretary lekhashri Samantsinhar and non-resident Odia cell coordinator Subash Gantayat were present. Meanwhile, hundreds of BJP activists on Tuesday gheraoed the Ersama police station protesting against the lack of police action against the BJD goons involved in assaulting Parbati for supporting the BJP. They demanded that the police immediately take action against the guilty.