Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, July 4:

Five days after the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a demonstration in all 314 blocks in Odisha over the attack on Union Textile Minister Santosh Gangwar’s convoy, the saffron party today staged a dharna in front of Raj Bhawan here over the same issue.

BJP protest rajbhawan

The BJP has termed the Bargarh incident as a conspiracy and a pre-planned attack by the ruling party.

“The Bargarh incident was the most deplorable and shameful incident in the history of Odisha. First, the ministers were threatened not to visit Odisha, then posters were torn and then black flags were shown. The ruling BJD has failed on all fronts. People are devoid of basic requirements like drinking water and electricity. There have been large-scale irregularities in ration card distribution and chit fund scam had already happened. This is a government of scams,” BJP National General Secretary and Odisha Pradesh Pravari Arun Singh said.

The leaders of the BJP headed by state unit president Basant Panda submitted a memorandum to Governor SC Jamir.

The ruling party, however, refuted the Opposition charges and stressed that the government has initiated steps at proper time.

“Now, there is a battle between the Congress and the BJP to acquire the second position. As Congress is already in the main Opposition, the BJP is strategizing to oust the Congress and occupy the space. We don’t have anything to say on this. As far as the issues for staging dharna in front of Raj Bhawan are concerned, government has initiated steps on Gouda, Papu Pom Pom and Bargarh incident. In the ration card issue, 98 percent beneficiaries have availed the ration cards. The Opposition is doing political drama” BJD spokesperson Sameer Dash said.

Following much hullabaloo over the Bargarh incident, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had ordered for an RDC inquiry into the incident on June 28 and sought a report within 60 days.

Notably, the state government transferred the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (North) yesterday, days after announcing the administrative probe into the incident.