KalingaTV News Network
Bhubaneswar: Concerned over the widespread outrage across Odisha over incidents of violence and coercion during the five-hour hartal organised by the BJD today to protest the steep hike in fuel prices, the ruling party has embarked on a damage control exercise claiming neither the BJD nor the party Chief and Chief Minister supported violence during the ‘hartal’.
The regional party also claimed that stray incidents reported during the agitation were public outburst over the fuel price hike.
“Neither Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik nor BJD support violence. Stray incidents during the ‘Hak Pain Hartal’ were public outburst over fuel price hike,” said senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra.
Though BJD had announced the ‘hartal’ would be a peaceful affair, it turned out to be violent with party activists causing damage to vehicles and assaulting commuters at several places across the state.
Hundreds of people were stranded at different places and were inconvenienced, several vehicles were vandalised, women and journalists were misbehaved with and even ambulances carrying patients were rerouted.
The violent act of the BJD party workers was strongly condemned by people from all walks of life, including political parties.
BJP has called for a demonstration tomorrow in front of all SP offices across the state against today’s violence during the BJD hartal.
Ms Kalinga