Jharsuguda: State BJP President Manmohan Samal slammed the State Government over the incident.
Shri Samal said a Media Meet here that “Last year also some tension erupted during Hanuman Jayanti celebration in Sambalpur. But it was controlled. However, this year, due to the State Government’s incompetency, lack of foresight, or the Government knowingly wanting such incidents to happen, such violence has recurred.”
The State Government was having the intelligence report and last year experience. So, this year, the State should make a promising arrangement during the procession, he said.
If the State doesn’t have an adequate police force, security forces could have been called from the Centre, he said.
“But the manner in which it was left to create a tension environment in Sambalpur, shows the failure of the State Government in controlling the riot,” the BJP President alleged.
The BJD, on the other hand, accused the BJP of trying to “Instigate violence” in Odisha.
BJD Spokesperson Srimayee Mishra said party activists will bring out peace marches across the state on Wednesday evening. “It is extremely unfortunate that when peace is returning to Sambalpur, the Odisha BJP wants to instigate for political gains. This has always been their strategy. The police have taken tough action against those involved in the violence,” she said in a statement.
