BJD Leaders Rally Against BJP Government in Odisha: What’s Behind the Protests?
Protests Erupt in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar: On Thursday, leaders from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) staged a protest against the BJP government in Odisha, marking one year since it took office.
The rally, held at Master Canteen Square, saw BJD MPs, MLAs, and other officials brandishing handmade signs and chanting slogans targeting Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, labeling the BJP administration as a 'colour-changing and name-changing government.'
As the protestors advanced towards lower PMG Square, they were met by police, resulting in a confrontation that led to the preventive detention of several BJD leaders, including former ministers Prafulla Samal and Arun Kumar Sahoo, who were later released.
In response to the BJD's claims, Chief Minister Majhi criticized the previous BJD government led by Naveen Patnaik, referring to it as an 'event management government.'
BJD leaders expressed their dissatisfaction with the BJP's unfulfilled election promises, despite the government completing its first year.
They also raised concerns about the worsening law and order situation in the state, particularly the rise in crimes against women and sexual offenses.
Additionally, the BJD highlighted issues such as reduced central grants, neglect from the Centre regarding projects like Polavaram and Mahanadi, rising prices of essential goods, mismanagement at the Jagannath Temple, and the marginalization of OBC, ST, and SC communities.
Notable figures in the protest included BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra and Naveen Patnaik's political secretary, Santrupt Misra.
Odisha's Panchayati Raj minister, Rabi Narayan Naik, challenged the BJD to present a 'report card' on their 24 years in power, asserting that the current government is accountable for its one-year performance.
In a related development, BJD leaders in Nabarangpur district organized a 12-hour bandh in Raighar block to protest against the 'non-payment' to farmers who sold their paddy at government mandis.
Farmers claimed that despite selling 14,252 quintals of paddy worth around Rs 4.5 crore since February, 344 farmers from Raighar have yet to receive their payments, four months post-sale.