BJP moves guv against Deogarh MLA’s arrest

Bhubaneswar: The BJP on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to governor Ganeshi Lal accusing the state government of hatching a conspiracy and framing its Deogarh MLA Subash Chandra Panigrahi.
Deogarh police arrested the three-time MLA for allegedly assaulting Tileibani block development officer Krushnachandra Dalapati on Saturday.
Opposition chief whip and BJP legislator Mohan Majhi said Panigrahi had first lodged a complaint against the BDO’s indiscipline and misbehaviour. “However, the police did not investigate the complaint. Instead, the MLA was arrested in a false case due to government pressure which is undemocratic. We have sought the governor’s intervention to quash the false case against Panigrahi and initiate a probe against the BDO,” Majhi said.
The BJP memorandum also claimed that officers are not following book circular 47 of the government under which every official shall, in the discharge of her/his duties, act in a courteous manner and shall not adopt dilatory tactics while dealing with MPs and MLAs. When an MP/MLA comes to see an official, the latter should rise and receive the member forthwith courteously and give a polite send-off. The BJP had called a bandh in Deogarh on Monday over the issue.
BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said the BJP has repeated its old habit of trying to protect those involved in violence by supporting Panigrahi. “Not long ago, Union minister and Mayurbhanj MP Bishweswar Tudu had assaulted government officers on duty. The Deogarh MLA has only repeated a similar act,” the BJD spokesperson said in a statement.
A case was registered against Tudu for allegedly assaulting two government officers in Mayurbhanj district in January.