BHUBANESWAR: As the state BJP is gearing up for the electioneering by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh in two western Odisha districts on Thursday, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today announced to stage Jal Satyagraha (protest inside water) to protest against Singh's visit to the state.
BJD workers will take to Jal Satyagrah in Mahanadi river at Cuttack and Sambalpur at 10.30 and perform Jal Alati (lighting of lamps) in the evening as a mark of protest to the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister's stand on the Mahanadi water sharing issue.
"There has been protests at all levels to the proposed visit of Singh who has conspired with the Centre to stop sharing water with Odisha by constructing dams and barrages on the upper stream of river
Mahanadi. The BJD has decided to launch a peaceful protest to protect the interest of the state," BJD spokesperson Sashi Bhusan Behera told reporters here.
Admitting that Singh has constitutional and democratic rights to campaign for his party, Behera said the former has no moral right to seek vote for the BJP as his action will destroy the economy of the state.
Stating that Mahanadi is the lifeline of Odisha, the Balipatna MLA said the people of the state will not forgive the state BJP leaders who have joined hands with Singh to ruin the future generations of the state.
The state committee of the CMP today announced to protest the visit of the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister. Senior party leader and former state secretary Janardan Pati said that his party will hold demonstrations wherever Singh will visit.
Taking the assistance of Singh for poll campaigning by the state BJP leader is nothing but suicidal, Pati remarked.
The Congress and Samajwadi Party have also decided to oppose Singh's visit.
The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister is coming on a day's visit to state on Thursday and he is scheduled to address three public meetings, the first one at Burda in Losing block of Bolangir district at 11 am followed by Kandailela near Lakhanpur in Jharsuguda district at 12.30 pm and the last one at Subdega in Sundergarh district at 2.30 pm.
President of Samajwadi Party's state unit Rabi Behera said his party workers will stage black flag demonstrations at the respective district headquarters during the visit of Singh.