‘Jagannath Bharasa’: Dharmendra Pradhan targets CM over law and order situation in Odisha
Coming down heavily on Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha Government over deteriorating law and order in the State, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday lashed out at the Odisha government over apparent lawlessness in the state which saw a policeman pulling the trigger on Health Minister Naba Das in broad daylight.
While addressing the press in Bhubaneswar, Pradhan alleged that the basic foundation of the ongoing investigation in the Naba Das case is wrong.
“How would you explain a cop using his service revolver to shoot a cabinet minister from close range?” he asked.
While raising questions on the transparency in the ongoing investigation, Dharmendra also called the Odisha DGP Sunil Bansal’s statement that no one, barring Lord Jagannath, could anticipate such an incident, as unfortunate. “While the CM, who holds the Home portfolio, has remained mum over the incident, the DGP is trying to shrug off his responsibility in the name of Lord Jagannath. This tells a lot about the law and order situation in the state,” he said.
The Union Minister said that the government does not seem serious about the investigation, which he alleged is being conducted on a preconceived line, and therefore, the case should be handed over to an independent agency.
Expressing concern over the attack on sub-collector by sand mafias in Balasore, Dharmendra said that some incidents in the recent past clearly indicate that the law enforcement agency is not doing its work.
Citing example of decreasing law and order situation, Pradhan said a bureaucrat faced wrath of sand Mafia in Balasore. Anand Tappo was murdered in Sundergarh, but police dubbed it as a case of suicide. In another instance, a woman was subjected to police harassment in Jagatsinghpur following which she had moved the high court against an MLA of the ruling BJD, Pradhan said.
“Who is ruling the State here? What the big guns in the government want? Pradhan asked.
Targeting the CM, Pradhan said that CM has held the portfolio of Home Department. He should be aware of such situation. He has been given a responsibility to serve people which doesn’t mean that he would act as per his whims and fancies, Dharmendra said
