Baripada: A social activist on Saturday lodged an FIR against Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi for hurting religious sentiments and violating COVID-19 guidelines during her visit to Baripada in Mayurbhanj district on Friday.
Reportedly, Aparajita and Union Minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi had visited Baripada on Friday to lay the foundation stone of a Ram Temple at Bhugurakata.
On her return from the proposed temple site, she saw some women staging dharna near the Collector’s office. They were the female members of the landless families at Chipatastia village who had staged dharna demanding land titles.
As the women were observing Panchuka, they had created Alpana of the Nagarjuna Besha of Lord Jagannath and his siblings on their dharna site.
While approaching the women, Aparajita stepped on the Alpana but stepped back after being alerted by the public. However, instead of apologising for the inconvenience, she started lecturing the women.
As Aparajita was also not wearing a face mask during this period, social activist Arun Kumar Behera lodged a complaint against her at Baripada Town Police Station. Based on the complaint, police have registered a case and started an investigation.