Operation Blackspot aftermath: BJP observes bandh in Odisha’s Chhendipada

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Angul, Aug 30:

The BJP today gave a 12-hour bandh call in Chhendipada of Odisha’s Angul district demanding resignation and arrest of four BJD MLAs, who allegedly demanded money for facilitating setting up of industries in their constituencies.

The saffron party’s move comes a day after video footage showing the four legislators demanding money for giving No Objection Certificate and facilitating land acquisition in their constituencies was aired on leading regional news channel Kanak News.

While Hindol MLA Seemarani Nayak has been exposed in the video who is asking for a bribe of Rs 40 crore to help obtain No Objection Certificate (NOC) for an industry interested to set up a textile mill in Dhenkanal district, Chhendipada MLA Susant Kumar Behera was seen demanding Rs 8 crore to help setting up of a power plant in Angul.

On the other hand, the video showed Karanjia legislator Bijay Kumar Nayak demanding Rs 5 crore for facilitating in bringing up a power unit in his constituency. Similarly, the first time MLA from Bhawanipatna Anam Nayak also fell into the operation as he too was seen demanding money for facilitating setting up of a power plant in his constituency in Kalahandi district.

The BJP workers today burnt posters and effigies of the MLAs, sources said. This apart, protests were staged in Baripada, Bhawanipatna and Karanjia by the party workers.