Bhubaneswar, Sept. 12: The Congress is gearing up for a longer battle against the Naveen Patnaik government with the party’s Odisha affairs in-charge Jagdish Tytler leading the charge.
As rumours of his impending arrest did the rounds, Tytler, who has been booked by the state police for inciting violence during last Thursday’s Naveen hatao, Odisha bachao rally, arrived here in the evening, all charged up for the battle at hand.
Tytler discussed the party’s future strategy at Congress Bhavan with senior state leaders, who briefed him on the developments in the wake of last Thursday’s rally.
Moreover, Union minister of state attached to PMO V. Narayanswami, too, today arrived here from Calcutta. He would address the local media tomorrow on the issue of coal blocks allotment. Sources said the Congress strategy was to pile up pressure on the state government at a time when the BJD appears to be in disarray in the wake of the rally.
Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik dared the police to arrest him and Tytler. “Police have become a puppet in the hands of the ruling party. Let them arrest Tytlerji and me. They will get a fitting reply from the people,” said Patnaik.
Gearing up for the next round of the battle with the state government, the Congress women wing today organised a rally near the office of director-general of police in Cuttack, demanding arrest of the police personnel, who attacked women activists of the party during the rally. Led by women’s wing president Bijaylaxmi Sahu, the Congress activists met director-general of police Prakash Mishra in his office and demanded action against police officials, who assaulted women Congress workers during the rally.
Sources said the BJD was unlikely to oppose Tytler’s visit as such a move might provide Congress fresh ammunition against the government. The party, however, continues to demand Tytler’s arrest.
The Cuttack unit of the BJD today organised a demonstration demanding Tytler’s arrest. Leading the demonstration, Mahanga MLA and former minister Pratap Jena said: “Tytler was responsible for the all that happened on that day. He tried to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the state. The government should immediately arrest him.”
However, sources said the police were unlikely to act in a haste in the matter as it could have serious repercussions. “We are examining all aspects. We know that a hasty decision can boomerang. Hence we will proceed in the matter carefully,” said a senior police officer.
