Minister’s convoy greeted with black flags, eggs

Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram on Wednesday faced stiff resistance from BJD and Congress during his visit to Rajkanika area in the district to attend BJP’s ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ programme.

Protesting his tour to the coastal district, BJD activists showed black flags and hurled eggs at the vehicle of the minister at Aul. A scuffle ensued between the mob and security officials escorting the minister there. Earlier on Wednesday morning, some Congress activists led by local MLA Devendra Sharma were also detained while protesting Oram’s visit by waving black flags on Rajkanika-Chandbali road. Later, a group of 100 activists of the Congress including the legislator were taken into preventive custody.

The state BJP considered the protest as a joint effort of Congress and BJD to corner BJP.

“Both Congress and BJD do not want development but destruction. Therefore, they are jointly creating such nuisance to thwart BJP’s movement as well as welfare programmes in State,” party spokesperson Golak Mohapatra said.

Reacting to the attacks, the minister tweeted, “I condemn in the strongest terms to anti Adivasi mindset of BJD who have thrown eggs on me in Kendrapara.”

FOUR days ago, Bhubaneswar Police arrested five persons, including the Youth Congress President for hurling eggs at Union minister Radha Mohan Singh’s vehicle