Naveen seeks measures to ensure people’s safety

Bhubaneswar: On a day chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the state’s law and order situation, leader of opposition Naveen Patnaik on Saturday wrote to him expressing “deep concern and grave anxiety”, alleging the situation was “deteriorating” in Odisha.

Citing an incident in Tigiria block under Athagarh assembly constituency, Naveen alleged that BJD MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain was “violently blocked, intimidated and physically prevented” by “BJP-backed miscreants” while on his way to attend a Tigiria panchayat samiti meeting on Friday.

“Such an act is not merely a local political clash; it is a direct, malicious assault on our democratic framework. If public representatives are not safe from partisan hooliganism while discharging their constitutional duties, the safety of common citizens becomes highly precarious,” Naveen wrote, seeking immediate intervention, stringent action against those responsible, and measures to ensure everyone’s safety.

Responding to the letter, BJP media coordinator Sujit Kumar Das said the Majhi govt was taking strict action as per law against anyone taking it into their hands. “The situation is unlike Naveen’s tenure, when criminals allegedly enjoyed political patronage,” he added.