By Anurjay Dhal
BHUBANESWAR: The studies silence made by the Odisha BJP as well as the Saffron establishments in New Delhi over the repeated humiliations of a Party MP from State Capital, Aparajita Sarangi, happens to National Spokesperson, and a former State cadre women IAS officer of Bihar origin, has raised many eyebrows with political commentators alleging about BJP-BJD in equal proximity than equal distance.
Since 4 days have been passed so far , MP Sarangi’s office was sealed by BMC, only State general secretary, Prithwiraj Harichand aired few sentences while rest kept mum and watching helplessly with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s BJD battalion continued to attack the sitting Lok Sabha MP. Twitter savy Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Pratap Sarangi along with National VP Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda and outspoken Dr Sambit Patra, all kept mum since MP Sarangi’s office was sealed.
Despite knowing the fact that , Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his Police adopting double yardstick in dealing with COVID-19 crisis, BJP in Odisha continues to kept mum , reason best known to them. MP Sarangi, who had earlier written to Chief Minister, on Monday, again reminded the BJD Boss about the activities of his party leaders during COVID-19.
“Today I wrote to Sri @Naveen_Odisha citing many instances of COVID norms violation in BJD Party Office & outside by BJD functionaries. Have attached photos & video. Why no action taken till now? Deplorable double standards!Intolerance & vindictiveness at their peak!We are aghast,” Aparajita Sarangi tweeted @AprajitaSarangi.
“I am writing to you in the context of my office by BMC on the ground of congreation, mask wearing violation and lack o social distancing. I appreciate the alacrity with which BMC has taken this action, however t is the selective nature of BMC’s action which raises suspicion regarding the intent behind such enforcement,” MP Sarangi wrote to Chief Minister Patnaik.
“I have come across innumerable instances of violation of COVID-19 guidelines at BJD headquates as well as by the Ministers and MLAs and Party workers of BJD. while no action has been taken against such violation the sealing of my office , that too, without detection of a single COVID- Positive case in my office among my supporter who where present in the office , does deserve answers from your government,” the MP wrote.
“I would also be looking at when the BJD party office will be sealed. The sealing of my ofice is intend to prevent me from discharging my responsibilities as a public representative and I am now forced to hold my office on the roads of Bhubaneswar for next 15 days. Under any circumstances the wheel of progress and development will not stop,” the MP said while sharing details of COVID-19 violations by BJD.
A team led by Bhubaneswar Municipal Commissioner (BMC) zonal deputy commissioner Rabinarayan Jethy along with police had sealed her office. Earlier, Odisha Minister of State (Home) Dibya Shankar Mishra had written a letter to Union Minister of State (Home) Nityanand Rai opposing the act at of BJP MP. In the viral video, the MP was seen celebrating her birthday on October 8 in a huge gathering without wearing masks and maintaining social distance.
Earlier, at a press meet, MP Sarangi, had came down heavily on Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for adopting double yardstick on COVID-19 guidelines in the State.
The MP had alleged that every day, BJD party office here looking jam-packed while for Balasore and Tirtol bye polls, ruling regional party leaders are openly flouting COVID-19 guidelines but BMC and Police targeting her only to make their boss happy.
“A couple of days back, a minister of the state Cabinet and an MLA, who had tested positive for COVID-19, had participated in cremation of late Pradeep Maharathy at Swargadwar in Puri. I want to ask Mishra what was he doing at that time? Did he take up the matter with his two colleagues or did he write to the Chief Minister?” MP had Sarangi said.
