Bhubaneswar, July 16 (UNI) Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, today strongly condemned what he described as the high-handed tactics employed by the police and the state government to sabotage the party’s peaceful protest march.
Patnaik alleged that the police acted in a blatantly partisan manner by resorting to the use of rubber bullets without any provocation or justification.
He said the excessive use of force during a lawful democratic demonstration was unacceptable.
“The right to democratic protest is under grave threat in Odisha,” Patnaik asserted.
The BJD had organized a peaceful protest to demand justice for a 20-year-old girl student from FM College, who tragically lost her life due to what the party termed as “systemic apathy and betrayal.”
Patnaik said BJD leaders were marching in a disciplined manner towards the Lok Seva Bhawan when the police suddenly and unhesitatingly used water cannons to disperse the peaceful crowd.
“Shockingly, rubber bullets were also fired without any provocation,” he added.
The BJD chief further recalled that just a few days ago, a senior police officer was caught on camera near the Chief Minister’s residence instructing his personnel to “break the legs” of protestors and promising rewards for those who carried out the directive.
“Today, two former ministers have suffered leg fractures and may require surgery. Several senior leaders of the BJD, including a woman Rajya Sabha member and numerous party workers, were
also brutally assaulted by the police,” he claimed.
Patnaik said the state government owes an explanation to the people for issuing such violent directives.
He affirmed that the BJD would continue its relentless fight until justice is delivered to the FM
College student, asserting, “Neither water cannons nor rubber bullets can weaken our resolve.”
Concluding his remarks, Patnaik stated, “Let it be clear — no force can stifle our commitment to
stand up for justice and uphold the democratic rights of the people of Odisha.”
