Bhubaneswar: A delegation of State BJP led by party chief whip Mohan Majhi on Tuesday sought intervention of Governor Ganeshi Lal on arrest of party MLA Subash Chandra Panigrahi and requested him to withdraw the ‘false case’.

Notably, Deogarh MLA Mr.Panigrahi was arrested on Sunday morning for allegedly assaulting Tileibani BDO Krushna Chandra Dalapati.

Speaking to media persons after meeting the Governor, Mr.Majhi said, “It is unfortunate that opposition MLAs neither get respect nor feel safe under Naveen Patnaik government.”

“The BDO called Panigrahi to five different villages to meet him and later misbehaved with him. When the MLA lodged an FIR, the police did not take any action. However, the police arrested Mr.Panigrahi acting on BDO’s FIR filed three hours later,” he alleged.

They alleged that Mr.Panigrahi on April 30 contacted the Tileibani BDO Krushna Chandra Dalapati to discuss some important works. The BDO first told him to meet him at the Block office and subsequently gave the address of four other places to meet him but when the MLA visited the places the BDO was not present in any of the places.

Finally, the MLA met the BDO at Bhaliagudi village. On seeing the MLA, the BDO scolded him and threatened to kill him, the BJP leaders alleged.

The BJP leaders said though the MLA lodged an FIR against the BDO first but no action was taken against him so far.

However, Mr.Panigrahi was arrested by the Deogarh Police on May 1 last from his official residence in Bhubaneswar on the basis of the FIR lodged by the BDO which is ”unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional in the eye of the law” they said and requested the Governor to intervene in the matter.

Though several incidents of attack on BJP legislators have been reported in the recent past, no action has been taken against the culprits. However, Mr.Panigrahi, who had not assaulted the BDO, had been arrested without proper investigation, alleged the BJP lawmaker.

He demanded arrest of the BDO for violating Book Circular 47 (a circular issued by Odisha government on observance of relationship between MP/MLAs and government servants).

In the memorandum, the BJP leaders said, “Book Circular 47 is not being implemented in the field and the officers are very carelessly dealing with the MPs and state legislatures. It is seen that some officers are daring to ignore the Book circular- 47 at large for which MPs and MLAs are feeling humiliated.”

They requested the Governor to instruct the State Government to direct all the public servants to follow the Book Circular- 47 leaf and bound for a conducive and congenial atmosphere between public servants and MPs /MLAs.