Bhubaneswar: The office of Satyabadi block chairperson Sunil Kumar Panda in Puri district was allegedly vandalised by BJP workers on Wednesday over his reported derogatory remarks against members of the ruling party, triggering a sharp reaction from the Opposition BJD.
The BJD condemned the incident, alleging that the vandalism inside a government office reflected a breakdown of law and order in the state.
The incident took place on the premises of the Satyabadi Block Development Officer’s (BDO) office, which also houses the office of Panda, a BJD leader. According to sources, BJP workers had gathered to protest against Panda’s purported remarks at a meeting, where he allegedly compared BJP members to dogs. A video of the remarks has since gone viral.
Senior BJD leader Sanjay Kumar Das Burma alleged that BJP workers entered the office and damaged furniture. He further claimed that police had neither registered a case nor arrested anyone in connection with the incident.
BJD president and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik strongly condemned the vandalism in a social media post, accusing the ruling party’s workers of resorting to violence inside a government establishment.
“Anarchy is crossing its limits,” Patnaik said, describing the incident as shocking for the people of Odisha.
Questioning the state government’s response, he asked whether BJP workers could vandalise government offices and public property merely because their party was in power. He also accused the government of failing to take exemplary action against acts of violence.
Patnaik alleged that lawlessness was tarnishing Odisha’s image across the country and asserted that there was no place for violence in the state, known for its peaceful traditions.
Following the incident, Panda and members of the block committee staged a sit-in protest outside the office premises, demanding the arrest of local BJP MLA Om Prakash Mishra and other persons allegedly involved in the vandalism.
