BJP Believes In Political Violence: Sasmit Patra

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal has lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party for instigating political violence during the campaigning for Padampur by-polls. Speaking to media, senior leader of the Biju Janata Dal and Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra has said that the Bharatiya Janata Party is indulging in violence before the Padampur by-polls. Sasmit said that the BJP is trying to import and replicate the culture of political violence that happens in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and disturb the peace in the state. The BJP does not believe in peace and harmony. A glaring example can been seen in Padampur where the BJP tried to disturb the peace. While the GST officials were carrying out rids in Padampur, the BJP leaders tried to indulge in violence and resorted to verbal assault on the officials which included a woman officer. They even hampered the official work by attacking them and their vehicles. The Biju Janata Dal condemns these activities of the BJP, he said.

In another incident, a BJP worker named Dilip Senapati was distributing money in Saldihi village under Jharbandha Block when the people caught hold of him but he escaped from the place. The BJP planted a false story that he was kidnapped and filed a false case with the police, he said. There have been many other incidents where the BJP workers are indulging in violence and beating the BJD workers. Yesterday night, BJP MLA Kusum Tete herself led a group of more than 100 BJP workers and threatened the GST officials who were carrying out raids at the house of one businessman Govardhan Agarwal. The Biju Janata Dal condemns these violent activities of the BJP and requests the Election Commission to take action against them.