Row over Patasani's remarks on Biju Patnaik's samadhi

BHUBANESWAR: BJD MP Prasanna Patasani may land in trouble for his controversial remarks against December 27 court order for removal of Biju Patnaik's samadhi (memorial) at Swargadwar in Puri.
Patasani told the media on Saturday that anyone who demolishes the memorial of the legendary leader would be given 'samadhi' at the place.
On Sunday, Rudra Singh lodged a complaint against the MP at Town police station in Puri.Rudra is the elder brother of Ramesh Singh, on whose petition the civil judge (junior division) delivered the judgment.
"Patasani's statement is an indirect threat to my brother. Police should immediately take action against him," he said.
Police said they are verifying Rudra's allegation. "We have no yet registered a case. The charges are being examined," DSP (Puri city) Pravas Routray said.
No other BJD leaders, including Biju's son Naveen Patnaik, reacted to the court's order.
In a related development, tension ran high at Swargadwar following a face-off between two groups over the court's judgment. While members of Odisha Lok Dal, a voluntary organization, staged a demonstration, seeking re-examination of the court's verdict, Sachetan Nagarika Mancha, another civil society outfit, demanded immediate implementation of the order.
"We may challenge the verdict in an upper court," said Lok Dal's president Dipti Mohanty.
The mancha convener Priyadarshan Pattnaik said, "We have high regards for Biju. But Swardawar is not a place to build memorials. The district administration should execute the court's order."