Amit Shah accuses Naveen Patnaik of 'shielding' criminals

BJP President Amit Shah today accused Odisha Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik of "shielding" criminals who, he said, are involved in the killing of saffron party leaders and workers in the state.

He made this scathing allegation while addressing a BJP youth rally here.

The BJP chief has on numerous occasions said that Odisha is a focus state for his party. Elections to the 147 member Odisha assembly are due early next year. Patnaik has been in power since 2000.

The ruling BJD is resorting to political violence and over 14 of our activists have been murdered in last one and half years and their killers are moving scot-free as Naveen Patnaik is shielding them, Shah alleged.

Claiming that the BJP does not believe in violence, Shah said once his party comes to power, all the culprits will be booked and put behind the bars.

Referring to a statement made by a BJD leader on his silence on BJP's Mission 120' in Odisha, Shah said: "I am not mentioning 120 figure because the BJP will win more seats and form government in Odisha after 2019 elections."