A day after the shocking shoe attack on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at an election meeting in Bijepur, a BJD delegation on Wednesday met the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in New Delhi and appraised him about the incident.
Speaking to mediapersons, BJD MP Pinaki Misra said the CEC has taken the shoe attack on the Chief Minister seriously; and a report has been sought from the State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in the connection.
“The CEC condemned the act, saying he was extremely disturbed that a Constitutional functionary has been attacked. Besides, he has sought a report from the State CEO,” said Misra.
“The CEC has also directed the Odisha Election Commissioner to take steps to avoid occurrence of such incident and ensure smooth conduct of the Bijepur by-poll,” he added.
The BJD also alleged to the CEC that the BJP is using a huge amounts of money in the Bijepur by-poll to lure the voters. Among others, MPs Dilip Tirkey and Balabhadra Majhi were present.
Meanwhile, a team of leaders comprising Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty, party general secretary Pradeep Panigrai, MlAs Bijay Mohanty and Priyadarshi Mishra and State secretary Bijay Nayak submitted a memorandum to Director General of Police Dr RP Sharma demanding stringent action against the attacker at the earliest.
“As BJP flag and other material were found from Meher’s possession. It is clear that the BJP organised this pre-meditated attack and indulged in a deep conspiracy to harm the Chief Minister. This shows the depths to which the BJP will stoop to fulfill their evil designs of destroying democracy and imposing tyrannical power of muscle power in the State,” read the memorandum.
The party too informed that they (the BJP) orchestrated attacks on the CM in Talsari, Balasore and barged into the house of the CM’s Private Secretary during the last few weeks
It said the party demands strictest action not only against the attacker but also against all those from the BJP who are involved in this criminal conspiracy.