Bhubaneswar, July 16: BJD president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday strongly condemned the ‘heavy-handed tactics employed by the police and the Government to sabotage the BJD’s peaceful march’ and said ‘neither water cannons nor rubber bullets can weaken our resolve.’
For the context, several senior BJD leaders, including former Ministers – Pranab Prakash Das and Priti Ranjan Ghadai and Rajya Sabha member Sulata Deo sustained injuries and hospitalised as police used water cannons and burst tear gas shells to disperse the BJD protestors attempting to gherao Lok Seva Bhawan over the tragic self-immolation death of the FM College student.
“The right to democratic protest is under grave threat in Odisha. Today, the Biju Janata Dal exercised its constitutional right to hold a peaceful demonstration, protesting the tragic death of a 20-year-old girl student--a victim of systemic apathy and sheer betrayal. I strongly condemn the heavy-handed tactics employed by the police and the Government to sabotage the BJD’s peaceful march,” Patnaik posted on ‘X’.
Patnaik who also happens to the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly said, “As BJD leaders marched in a disciplined manner towards Lok Seva Bhawan, the police unhesitatingly used water cannons to disperse the peaceful crowd. Shockingly, they even fired rubber bullets without any provocation.”
“The police acted in a blatantly partisan manner, rushing to fire rubber bullets when there was absolutely no justification for such excessive force,” added Patnaik.
The former CM further said, “Just a few days ago, a senior IPS officer was caught on camera near the Chief Minister’s residence instructing his force to break the legs of protesters and promising awards to those who achieved this feat. Today, the legs of two ex-Ministers have been broken, probably needing surgery. Other senior leaders of BJD, a lady Rajya Sabha member, and several party workers have been brutally hit by the police. Clearly, the Government owes an explanation for this kind of a direction.”
Maintaining that the BJD will continue its relentless fight undeterred, until justice is served for the FM College girl student who lost her life tragically, Patnaik said, “Neither water cannons nor rubber bullets can weaken our resolve.”
“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,” Patnaik warned.
