Bhubaneswar, Dec. 13: The black stole controversy echoed during the chief minister's public meetings at Nimapara in Puri district and at Nayagarh with BJP and Congress workers today venting their ire at Naveen Patnaik and one of his cabinet colleagues.
The forceful removal of black stoles from women at Naveen's public meetings in Sundargarh and Jharsuguda districts in November and earlier this month has become a major controversy with Opposition parties taking up the issue in a big way.
Though the chief minister has ordered an inquiry and directed the director-general of police to ensure that such incidents do not recur, this has not been able to pacify the anger of the Opposition members.
Today the chief minister was on a tour to Nayagarh, the home district of panchayati raj minister Arun Sahoo, to inaugurate a slew of welfare measures, as part of his campaign for the panchayat polls.
The BJP members tried to wave black flags at Naveen at a public rally at the Police Training School ground in Nayagarh. Apprehending trouble, the police had taken BJP leader and former minister Surama Padhi, along with her supporters, into preventive custody. Some Congress leaders were also detained for opposing the chief minister's visit.
The issue is bound to echo in the Assembly tomorrow when it meets after three days. Last week, the House was stalled on the issue after BJP MLA Radharani Panda alleged that her stole had been removed at the chief minister's meeting at Brajarajnagar on November 23. Later, similar incidents took place at Bargarh and Sundargarh as well.
However, amid protest by the Opposition members, Naveen inaugurated a bridge on the Kusumi river and new classrooms at Chandpur Ramachandi High School in Nayagarh. He also laid the foundation stone of some projects. Unfazed by the protests, Naveen said: "Delighted to be in Nayagarh district for a number of welfare projects and schemes for local people."
At Nimapara, the constituency of party spokesperson Samir Dash, the BJP workers tried to show black flags to Naveen. The party members also organised a rally wearing black dresses. Sensing trouble, the police had detained Mahila Morcha leader Prabhati Parida along with a few others.
"The government has no regard for women. Even our MLA was frisked by the police and her stole was removed," said Parida.
Hundreds of Congress workers, led by Pradesh Congress general secretary Biswa Ranjan Mohanty, were detained while they were on their way in a procession to protest Naveen's visit to Nimapara. The chief minister inaugurated projects worth of Rs 91 crore.
At Patnagarh in Balangir, the BJP members hurled eggs at the car of handloom, textile and handicraft minister Snehangini Chhuria. Patnagah is the constituency of BJP legislature leader K.V. Singh Deo.
Chhuria was scheduled to inaugurate a programme on women empowerment. On her way to the meeting place, BJP workers hurled eggs at her car at three places - Ramji Chhak, near the bus stand and Dhumabhata Chhak. However, the minister attended the meeting and later left for Khaprakhol.
The police detained five BJP workers, including four women, in this connection. The detention triggered tension. The BJP, led by Balangir district BJP president Bhaktabandhu Nayak, gheraoed Patnagarh police station to protest the detention of party workers.
The Congress, however, has called a 12-hour strike tomorrow in Sundargarh to protest against the stole removal incident.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SUBRAT MOHANTY
