Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, while blaming the State police for incidents of repeated attacks on him, has written a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking his intervention and advice to the Odisha Government to make adequate security arrangements for Union Ministers visiting the State.
Oram, in his letter, has elaborated the recent incident of attack on his vehicle by local goons of the ruling BJD in Kendrapada district and very poor security arrangements made for his visit.
He said that while he was travelling by road from Kendrapada to Rajkanika in the district to attend a Sabka Saath Sabka Vikash Sammelan at the SN College ground at Rajkanika, the miscreants attacked his vehicle and pelted stones and eggs.
Such incidents have happened to him four times at different places on the routes despite the district police authorities being provided information about his visit much in advance, he has pointed out.
Oram said, “It is the responsibility of the State Government to provide foolproof security to the visiting Union Ministers attending functions in the State. But it seems the State police have failed miserably in performing their duty with due diligence, thereby giving scope to some criminal elements to display this kind of undemocratic behaviour, which is not only highly objectionable but also against the spirit of democratic protest.”
He also pointed out that Union Minister of Agriculture & Famers’ Welfare Radha Mohan Singh’s vehicle was targeted in the State capital five days back.
Oram has requested for intervention of Rajnath Singh by issuing necessary instructions to the State Government to inquire into the matter as well as advising it to make adequate security arrangements for Union Ministers visiting the State.
In another development, a BJP delegation led by State president Basanta Panda met Governor SC Jamir here on Friday and submitted a memorandum to him seeking his intervention in the incidents of attacks on Oram and other Union Ministers in the State.
The Governor assured the team to look into the issue, Panda added.
In a related development, normal life was thrown out of gear in Sundargarh district as the BJP held a seven-hour bandh from 6 am to 1 pm on Friday in protest against hurling of eggs by Congress and BJD workers at the vehicle of Oram, local MP, in Kendrapada district on Wednesday. Party activists blocked roads by burning tyres and picketed at different important junctions. While vehicular communications were fully disrupted, schools and offices remained closed since morning. All the shops and business establishments downed their shutters.
Police forces were deployed to maintain law and order.