Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jul 29: 

BJP supporters today took out a bike rally and staged a demonstration at Master Canteen square of Odisha capital in retaliation against the attack on BJP workers in Manamunda by Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal workers including Bolgarh MLA Prasanta Jagdev.

BJP rally against manamunda attack

“There is nothing wrong in showing black flags. It is our democratic rights to protest against something we do not agree with. However, the BJD leaders assaulted on our colleague brutally as everyone in the state must have seen already in television footage. There is no looking back now. We will retaliate and give them a taste of their own medicine,” thundered a visibly agitated BJP worker near Master Canteen square.

In a related development, Odisha unit of BJP today announced that it will send a team of MLAs to Manamunda to speak to the party workers who were allegedly assaulted earlier in the day today.

“The incident occurred in presence of the police and was led by a BJD MLA and a corporator. Three of our party workers are under treatment in serious condition. A team of BJP MLAs led by KV Singhdeo will visit Manamunda tomorrow to take stock of the situation,” said BJP General Secretary Prithiviraj Harichandan speaking to reporters this evening.

According to a source in the party, the team -- led by newly appointed Leader of BJP Legislature Party KV Singh Deo -- will also hold talks with district administration and the police.

It may be noted here that earlier in the day, Several BJD supporters thrashed some BJP workers after the latter showed black flags to Ministers Sanjay Das Burma and Pushpendra Singh Deo at Manamunda in Odisha’s Boudh district.