To draw people’s attention to the State Government’s failures ahead of the panchayat polls, the BJP began observing a ‘lajja Satyagraha’ at Nilgiri in Baleswar district on the Gandhi Jayanti on Sunday.
The party held a demonstration at Nilgiri with party leaders severely criticising the BJD Government by raising issues such as bus accidents, children’s death due to malnutrition, civilians’ killing by security personnel in Kandhamal and the worsening law and order, education and health sectors.
“On the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and Shashtriji, we began the Satyagraha to highlight the lies the State Government is thriving on. We stand against their hypocrisy and corruption,” said BJP leader Pratap Sarangi.
He said people of Odisha stand ashamed all over the world for incidents like Dana Majhi carrying his wife’s body on his shoulders.
“There are innumerable such incidents. This Government couldn’t facilitate ambulance services. All that the Government does is self-promotion. This is shameful. That is why we are observing the ‘day of shame’,” he added.
According to the party, peaceful demonstrations would be held in all sub-divisional headquarters in coming days to highlight the failure of the BJD Government.
The campaign was seen as the saffron party’s counter to the ruling BJD’s ‘Janasamparka Padayatra’ that also began on the day.
Besides, the Congress too observed the Gandhi Jayanti. “The Congress observes Gandhi Jayanti with much serenity. We don’t want to show up the observance like other parties,” said PCC president Prasad Harichandan.