Gangwar slams BJD govt in Odisha for 2016 'attack' on convoy

Union Minister Santosh Gangwar today slammed the BJD government in Odisha, recalling an "attack" on his convoy during his visit to Bijepur two years ago.
Undertaking a whirlwind tour of the constituency in Bargarh district, Gangwar said his convoy was attacked during his visit to the district in 2016, as the ruling BJD tried to "prevent" him from meeting people.
"I had come to meet people. I would have held discussion with you and communicated your problem to the Prime Minister. We had also asked our party workers to refrain from any confrontation with political opponents," the Labour Minister said, while addressing public meetings.

Stating that he was minister of textiles and handloom at the time, Gangwar said he would have discussed with people and prepared a roadmap for promotion of handloom, along with improvement in the condition of weavers in the area.
The BJP leader attended public meetings at Bandhpali, Jalpali, Sadhupali and Barpali in the constituency, where by-election is scheduled to be held on February 24.
On its part, BJD intensified campaigning for party nominee Ritarani Sahu, with several senior leaders visiting the constituency and making door-to-door canvassing.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is also slated to address public meetings in three blocks of the constituency on February 19 and 21, party sources said.