Synopsis
On April 15, the ruling BJP in Odisha vehemently criticized the burning incident of Biju Patnaik's statue at Block Chowk in Patnagarh, Balangir. Senior leader Sajjan Sharma reported that swift legal action against the suspect has been initiated, emphasizing the party's respect for the late leader.Key Takeaways
- The BJP condemned the burning of Biju Patnaik's statue.
- Senior leader Sajjan Sharma called the act unacceptable.
- Jugal Kumar Sahu, the suspect, has been arrested.
- Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi demanded strict action.
- BJD also protested against the desecration of the statue.
Bhubaneswar, April 15 (NationPress) The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party expressed its strong disapproval on Tuesday regarding the burning of Biju Patnaik's statue at Block Chowk in Patnagarh, located in Balangir district.
In a statement to the press, senior BJP leader Sajjan Sharma described the act of setting fire to Biju Patnaik's statue as unacceptable and deplorable.
He emphasized that the BJP holds former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik in high esteem and will not stand for such atrocious acts.
Sharma further mentioned that, per government directives, local authorities had planned to install statues of Lord Parshuram and Biju Babu.
“However, the burning of the statue prior to its inauguration is utterly reprehensible. In a display of prompt action, the youth responsible for this act, identified as Jugal Kumar Sahu (Hiru), has been arrested, and a comprehensive investigation is underway by the government and local authorities,” Sharma stated.
Additionally, the senior BJP leader pointed out that the individual arrested is a mentally challenged person who was visibly present at the scene during the incident.
Sharma noted that this individual, Jugal Kumar, had previously climbed an electric pole months ago and had to be rescued after the power was turned off.
According to information provided by the Patnagarh police, the accused, Jugal Kishor, set ablaze the polythene covering the statue of Biju Patnaik at Block Chowk around 6 AM on Tuesday.
Upon receiving this information, the Patnagarh Police swiftly responded and extinguished the flames.
The police detained the suspect following a review of CCTV footage and eyewitness testimonies, leading to the registration of a legal case.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has also denounced the incident and instructed law enforcement to enforce strict measures against those implicated in this crime.
The BJD organized a significant demonstration on Tuesday to protest against the desecration and burning of Biju Patnaik's statue in Patnagarh, Balangir district.
Prominent BJD figures, including Party Media Affairs Head and former Minister Pratap Jena, Vice President Debi Prasad Mishra, National Spokesperson Santrupta Mishra, Chief Whip Pramila Mallick, along with numerous senior and youth leaders, convened near the Biju Patnaik statue at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar to voice their protest.
It is noteworthy that last week, several wrongdoers were apprehended by the police for vandalizing Biju Patnaik's statue in the Mahanga area of the Cuttack district.
