Attack on Odisha MP: Naveen says BJD against violence

A day after BJD parliamentarian Baijayant Panda was pelted with eggs and stones in his constituency, party president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said his party is against any form of violence.

"The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is against any form of violence and our party discipline is also against violence. I have asked the Cuttack observer to look into the matter," Patnaik told media persons here.

Panda on Tuesday faced embarrassing moments when party workers hurled eggs and stones at him when he was inaugurating an overhead water tank project in Jatiparilo village under Rahania Panchayat near Mahanga, which falls under the Kendrapada parliamentary constituency represented by him.

Mahanga legislator and state Law Minister Pratap Jena said the simmering public anger over his frequent media statements against the BJD was the reason for the attack on the MP.

"Panda's recent media statements have affected the party and upset supporters not only in Mahanga but across the state. However, we have to analyse the situation as to why the violence took place," said Jena.

Jena said he was in Shirdi when the incident happened.

Joining the controversy, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the attack on the BJD MP was carried out at the behest of BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The Cuttack rural police on Wednesday said they had not received any complaint about the incident.

Cuttack SP (Rural) Madhav Chandra Sahu said they had not registered any case relating to the attack on the BJD MP, as they were yet to receive any complaint.

As police are yet to take any action against the persons involved in the attack, Panda tweeted: "If it needs complaint-filing for action against violence which happens right in front of police, wd that indicate breakdown of law & order?"

--IANS

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