Crime-free politics, BJP’s cry for 25th anniv

Bhubaneswar: As the BJD gears up to celebrate its 25th foundation day in a grand manner in Puri on Monday, the BJP on Saturday announced to launch a statewide satyagraha on the same day in protest against the former’s alleged criminalisation of politics and violence against women, setting the stage for a mano-a-mano between the ruling and main opposition party that have started ground works for the 2024 battle.State BJP president Samir Mohanty said in a press conference here, “Odisha is known as a peaceful state, but the BJD-led government has patronised criminalisation of politics for the past 23 years. Several MLAs, ministers and ruling party leaders are involved in criminal activities like murder and violence against women.”“To protest this, our party workers will sit near statues of great personalities at block level for four hours on December 26. We appeal to the common people to participate in the satyagraha,” he added.He alleged that BJD leaders are involved in many criminal cases. “The prime accused in schoolteacher Mamita Meher murder case was killed in jail. We know the involvement of former minister of state for home Dibya Shankar Mishra in the case. In the Mahanga murder case, former minister Pratap Jena was involved. School and mass education minister Samir Ranjan Dash’s name came up in the Nimapada zilla parishad member murder case,” he added.BJD dubbed the announcement as cheap politics. Party spokesperson Ipsita Sahu said, “BJD is celebrating its 25th foundation day on December 26. BJP chose the date to stage a protest on five sensitive issues as they could not find any other issue.”