BALANGIR: The BJP workers pelted eggs at Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathi’s vehicle again, despite tight security arrangements on Wednesday. This was the second such attack in two consecutive days.
The Minister was on his way to attend the District Planning Committee (DPC) meeting when the incident occurred. Following the attack, some BJD workers present at the spot attacked the BJP activists, injuring two of them. Police arrested four BJP workers for their alleged involvement in the incident and later produced them in the court.
On Tuesday, the Saffron party workers pelted eggs at the Minister at Sudpara railway crossing while he was on his way to Balangir from Bhubaneswar.
Apparently, Maharathi had earlier stated that if the BJP wants to show its strength, it should do so during his Balangir visit. The district unit of the BJP had asked the Minister to withdraw his statement or face action.
At the DPC meeting, presided over by the Minister, it was decided to sanction `21 crore for projects under Biju KBK Yojana and `42 crore for Gopabandhu Grameen Yojana (GGY). However, the meeting did not pass off peacefully as BJD ZP members walked out. Balangir MP Kalikesh Singhdeo, Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra, KV Singhdeo, MLA Tujuni Sahu and Ayub Khan were present.
After the meeting, the Minister left for Bhubaneswar in the afternoon amidst heavy deployment. Police had diverted the route to avoid the agitators and ensure a tension-free return to the Capital.