Naveen’s posters found torn in Odisha capital, BJD files FIR

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Feb 5:

Biju Janata Dal leaders today lodged FIRs and met the Police Commissioner after posters of BJD Supremo and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik were found torn in various places of Bhubaneswar.

While both BJD and BJP used posters to promote their leaders in the run up to the dedication of Paradip refinery on February 7, only posters of Patnaik were torn and taken down in many places. Interestingly, posters carrying Narendra Modi’s pictures were found to be intact in those places.

Even though BJD did not directly accuse BJP, its indications were obvious.

“All the posters of Naveen Patnaik hung between Vani Vihar till Ram Temple square have been destroyed last night. Similar instances have occurred between AG square and BJD party office, near Kalpana square and between Governor’s house and Nandankanan,” said BJD leader and Bhubaneswar Mayor Anant Narayan Jena.

“We have lodged FIRs in Capital police station and Saheed Nagar police station so that the miscreants can be identified. This is cheap but intentional. We want those men to be brought behind the bar,” he added.

BJP, however, immediately washed off its hands.

“We have got nothing to do with taking off those posters. There is no reason to do so. Anyone can use posters of anyone they like. It is a democratic country. Media is trying to play up the issue even when things are pretty much normal,” said BJP’s Jual Oram.

Notably, the poster war between BJP and BJD to promote their leaders has been raging on not only in Bhubaneswar, but also in Paradip. Workers of both parties pelted stones at each other over sticking of banners of their respective leaders. Workers of both BJP and BJD blocked roads over more access to stick posters of their leaders in Paradip today, where the event is scheduled to be held. However, the situation was under control at the filing of this report.