Undeclared emergency prevails in Odisha, says BJP

BJP today alleged that attacks and terror unleashed by ruling BJD workers on their political opponents is not conducive for democracy and claimed people are experiencing "undeclared emergency" in Odisha.
"The manner in which attacks on political opponents are rising during BJD rule, there is feeling of undeclared emergency among people in Odisha due to terror unleashed by the ruling party activists," BJP state unit vice-president Samir Mohanty said here.
"People with opinions different from that of BJD are being attacked in a planned manner as part of a conspiracy at the direction of the "third floor", the BJP leader claimed, apparently pointing finger at Chief Minister's office.

"Third floor" refers to Patnaik's office situated on the third floor of the state secretariat.
"This is not good for democracy," Mohanty said, adding, it is unfortunate that common people are subjected to immense inconvenience and harassment in the name of the Chief Minister's security, for which heavy police force is deployed.
Mohanty said even when Patnaik visits a hospital, the entire area is converted to a fortress amid heavy police deployment, causing untold miseries for the patients and their attendants.

"BJD claims that Patnaik is a very popular chief minister ... Why is he so afraid ?" he wondered.

Alleging that the attack on Union Minister Santosh Gangwar and other senior BJP leaders recently in Bargarh was led by a BJD MLA, Mohanty said BJP workers were beaten up by another BJD MLA and corporator last week in Boudh in the presence of police.
Visuals of the Boudh incident shown on TV channels clearly present the scene where state ministers were present, he said, adding, it shows the murderous attack on BJP workers was mounted at the instance of ministers.
Similar attack was perpetrated on BJP activists by the ruling BJD workers at Angul, he alleged.