Several BJD workers on Wednesday hurled eggs at Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram’s vehicle at Ali Bazaar in Kendrapada district in protest against his statements on the Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
According to reports, the State ruling party activists waved black flags at Oram and threw eggs at his vehicle when he was on his way to Rajkanika in the district to attend a Sabka Saath Sabka Vikash programme.
Following the incident, a clash ensued between BJD and BJP workers at the spot. Police resorted to a mild lathicharge to take the situation under control. Some BJD workers were detained.
Earlier in the day, Oram was also shown black flags on the Cuttack-Chandbali road by many Congress workers led by the party’s Ali MlA Debendra Sharma. Sharma and more than 100 Congress workers were detained by police after the incident.
Oram took to Twitter to condemn the egg hurling. “I condemn in the strongest terms to the anti-Adivasi mindset of BJD (people) who have thrown eggs at me in Kendrapara,” he Tweeted.
Oram said he would seek action by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in the incident of attack on him.
Kendrapada BJD MP Baijayant Panda disproved of the BJD workers’ attack on Oram, saying that there are democratic ways of protest against a tribal or any other leader. Minister Damodar Rout also commented on the same line.
Kendrapada Additional Superintendent of Police Bikash Das said they cannot suo moto take any action in the egg pelting incident and any action by them would only follow someone’s complaint in this regard.