By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Several BJP leaders including Former Odisha DG and BJP leader Prakash Mishra and two sitting Lok Sabha MPs including Jual Oram of Sundargarh and Aparajita Sarangi on Bhubaneswar have strongly denounced action against Odia TV Channel , OTV, owned by BJP’s National VP-Spokesperson Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda’s Family.
“Strongly condemn the case against media persons of OTV .Should we allow absolute power to silence all,” tweeted the former NDRF DG, Prakash Mishra@PrakashMishra. Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi said, “Not only OTV, any media should be patted on the back for bringing such irregularities to the notice of the Government. It has raised questions on transparency and clearly shows that the State government is intolerant and lacks courage.” Lok Sabha MP and former Union Minister, Jual Oram also alleged that there has been massive irregularities in COVID-19 management in Odisha.
It may be noted that OTV had posted the audio clip of two persons in conversation with each other on COVID mismanagement on August 6. However, the BMC authorities refuted the claims and later issued a show-cause notice to OTV. The BMC had also filed a police complaint in this connection.
Meanwhile, hours after police reportedly detained two persons for bringing COVID mismanagement allegations in a viral audio clip, a woman who claimed to be the wife of one of the detainees alleged that the police may force her husband to change his statement.
As per an official statement, “The mischievous conversation is trying to make others believe that there are false corona positive reports, and persons are being shifted to hospitals by falsely showing them positive .” “This goes against the guidelines related to the management of the present disaster and violates many legal provisions, thus attracting criminal action,” the press release added.
Following a thorough investigation, two persons have been arrested in this connection. The accused have been identified as — Biswajit Mohanty and Laxmikanta Behera (Employee of Ortel Communication) of Bhubaneswar. Further investigation into the case is underway, sources said. Further, the police department has urged everyone “not to circulate misleading information and rumours about the pandemic”.
