BJD MP faces egg, stone attack in Odisha

Baijayant Panda, a parliamentarian of Odisha's ruling BJD, on Tuesday faced an embarrassing moment when party workers hurled eggs at him in his own Kendrapada constituency. He however shrugged off the attack, saying he was not afraid to face even bullets.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) lawmaker faced the attack while inaugurating an overhead water tank project at Jatiparilo village under Rahania Panchayat near Mahanga.

The MP took to Twitter, saying that he is not afraid of stones and eggs.

"Forget stones & eggs, they can't cow me down even if they use bullets. These MPLAD-funded projects 5.2 million litres of drinking water," Panda tweeted.

He also blamed bureaucrats for deciding the party affairs in BJD.

"I've been in the party since its inception. In the first 17 years, we had a policy to resist hooliganism and infighting. But in the last three years, many things have changed. Some babus sitting in the A/C rooms have started deciding the party activities leading to indiscipline," Panda told reporters.

"These are not good signs. I had apprised the matter to the party chief (and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik) and I am sure once he gets to know the truth, he will certainly take steps," he said.

BJD spokesperson and Cooperation minister Suryanarayan Patro however refuted Panda's allegations.

"Not officers but the party president and district level leaders decide on party activities. Whatever he is saying is purely personal," said Patro.

Meanwhile, Health Minister and Mahanga MLA Pratap Jena, who was accused of orchestrating the attack on Panda, refuted the charge of the involvement of his supporters in the incident.

"I am in Shirdi to pay obeisance to Sai Baba. I am not aware of the controversy and related developments. I will respond once I return to Odisha," said Jena.

--IANS

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