BJP, BJD lock horns over state education minister’s tweet

BHUBANESWAR: Amid the BJP’s ongoing Jan Ashirwad Yatra, a tweet by state education minister Arun Sahoo evoked sharp reactions from saffron party leaders on Friday.
Sahoo tweeted, “Forcing someone to bless without serving them and earning the blessing of someone without asking for it by working nonstop are different things. People of Odisha know the difference.”
While Sahoo did not name anyone, the BJP leaders interpreted it as a dig at Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Ashwini Vaishnaw, who sought the people’s and Lord Jagannath’s blessings for Odisha’s development on Thursday. Dharmendra had tweeted a photo of the two ministers and state BJP president Samir Mohanty lying face down in front of the Jagannath temple. “With Lord’s blessings, let everyone stay happy and in peace,” he had written in his post.
Responding to Sahoo’s tweet, state BJP secretary Tankadhar Tripathy wrote back, “It seems education minister Arun Sahoo does not know that no one can force anyone to give blessings. People may bless those who mix with them, be part of them in their sorrow and happiness. One can’t get this if he/she is closeted in a room.”
BJP leader Lekhashree Samantsinghar said it’s unbecoming of a minister to stoop so low. “How can someone make fun of anyone seeking the blessings of Lord Jagannath?” she asked. Many BJP leaders also tweeted a “controversial” photograph of Sahoo spending time with a section of priests of Jagannath Temple in Puri during his tenure as law minister. Sahoo, when contacted, declined to comment on his tweet.
While Dharmendra attended several inauguration and foundation stone laying events related to the education ministry, Vaishnaw toured Rayagada and Koraput districts after an overnight train journey from Bhubaneswar to Rayagada.