OPPOSITION CONDEMN ATTACK ON MEDIA PERSONS DURING PANCHAYAT POLLS

Odishabarta

Bhubaneswar: Both the BJP and the Congress on Sunday condemned the repeated attacks on mediapersons during the panchayat elections and urged the State Election Commission (SEC) to take stern action against those involved.

During the video-graphing of the capture of a booth by miscreants on Sunday in Bachhol panchayat of Binjhar block in Jajpur district, three media persons were assaulted by a group of miscreants. In the first phase of panchayat elections too, mediapersons came under attack and their cameras damaged.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said repeated attacks on media persons do not augur well for the State. It is regrettable and shocking, he said, adding that there is difference of opinion in politics but there is no place for violence. Pradhan said it is the responsibility of the administration to provide security to the people. The Union Minister urged the SEC to take stern action against the accused.

BJP general secretary Golak Mohapatra said people are dissatisfied with the BJD Government and wanted to vote for the BJP. Therefore, the BJD is becoming intolerant and resorting to violence, he said.

Congress spokesperson Nishikanta Mishra said had the Government taken action against the miscreants involved in attacks on mediapersons during the first and second phase of panchayat elections, such an incident would not have happened on Sunday.

On the other hand, BJD MP Subhash Singh said it is a conspiracy by the Opposition parties against the BJD. The Opposition parties are making false allegations to mislead the people, he said. Law will take its own course and action will be taken against those found guilty, Subash added.

Meanwhile, a delegation of journalists met State Election Commissioner Aditya Prasad Padhi and demanded strong action against those involved in the attack on media persons.

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