Representatives of different organisations on Thursday urged Governor SC Jamir to intervene in the issue of agitating farmers’ arrest for blocking Chief Minister’s convoy to the State Secretariat on Tuesday.
Representatives like Preeti Nayak of Milita Odisha Nisha Nibarana Abhiyan (MONNA), Debiprasad Prusti of Utkal Bikash Juba Parishad, Malaya Tripathy of India Against Corruption (IAC), Dr Avinna Hota of World Human Rights Protection Association (WHRPA), Kanhucharan Behura of Adarsha Odisha Foundation and Nishikanta Mohapatra of Aam Admi Party (AAP) condemned the arrest.
Citing the example of former Governor Assaf Alli and his wife Aruna Assaf Alli, the representatives said how the Governor had dealt the issue when students led by former lok Sabha speaker Rabi Ray staged demonstration in front of Alli’s car. Surprisingly, Governor’s wife Aruna could come out of Alli’s car and had joined with the protesters shouting slogans. The Governor did not order for arrest of the students, rather discussed the problem in a friendly environment.
The activists also gave example of AAP leader and would-be-Chief-Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal, who refused to take Government security and VIP culture. “We would like to request the Chief Minister to learn from these leaders,” said the activists.
“The arrested members of the Naba Nirmana Krushaka Sangathan (NNKS) have been continuing their fight for price, prestige and pension for farmers in the State,” said the representatives, adding, “But the State Government is trying to shut their mouth by attaching criminal sections in the case.”