Bhubaneswar: Hours after Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Prashanta Kumar Jagdev allegedly slapped a BJP leader in full public view in Balugaon of Khordha district, the ruling party President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik suspended Jagdev from the party.
Patnaik suspended Jagdev, BJD MLA from Chilika Assembly Constituency, with immediate effect from the party. However, no reason was cited for the suspension of Jagdev.
Also, the Chief Minister removed Jagdev from the post of Chairperson of the Khordha District Planning Committee with immediate effect.
Earlier in the day, Jagdev slapped BJP’s President of Balugaon Nagar Circle, Niranjan Sethi in full public glare and abused him verbally near the Balugaon NAC office. The legislator also snatched the mobile phone of a Journalist present at the spot.
Sethi said, “I went to the NAC office to find out when the work order to the Pradhan Manti Awas Yojana beneficiaries will be distributed. But when the police asked me to went outside the office, I left the place. Meanwhile, Jagdev reached there and abused me verbally. Moreover, the legislator slapped me.”
Following the incident, the BJP leader lodged a police complaint.
Senior BJP leader Prithviraj Harichandan, who reached Balugaon after coming to know about the attack on Sethi, said, “The party activists led by Niranjan Sethi have been staging agitation against Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana irregularities in the locality for past few months. As MLA Jagdev disliked the protest, he attacked the BJP leader.”
If the MLA does not have courage to face any opposition, he should quit politics. But the legislator cannot behave unruly and damage the spirit of democy .
“BJP will take up the matter before the State Assembly and National Commission for Scheduled Castes. As a complaint has been filed, the police have assured action against the legislator,” said Harichandan adding that the party condemns the attack on the journalist as well.
Another complaint was also filed by the Journalist at the Balugaon Police Station against the MLA.
