States » EastPosted at: Oct 21 2026 10:25PM


CJP detention row: BJD slams BJP chief's remarks against Naveen

Bhubaneswar, Oct 21 (UNI) The Opposition BJD on Wednesday questioned the detention of CJP leaders Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka, stressing the need to uphold democratic rights and the rule of law while slamming BJP state president Manmohan Samal for his criticism of Naveen Patnaik.
Terming Samal's remarks against Patnaik unfortunate, the BJD said the ruling party should counter the Opposition's arguments with facts and reasoned debate rather than personal attacks. It asserted that the rule of law and protection of citizens' rights must remain paramount in a democracy.
The party said the BJP had every right to disagree with Patnaik's views on the CJP issue but should refrain from portraying political dissent as anti-national. Questioning the government, it said scrutinising its policies and protecting public interests were fundamental responsibilities of the Opposition.
The BJD also challenged the BJP leadership to explain its policies and performance instead of describing Patnaik as directionless. No political party had a monopoly on patriotism, it said, warning against using nationalism to target political opponents for political gains. Raising concerns over electoral rights, the party cited claims that 130 million Indians, including 2.7 million people in Odisha, had been deprived of their voting rights. It called for transparency and accuracy in electoral rolls and protection of every eligible citizen's right to vote.
The BJD said people wanted answers on employment, farmers' problems, women's safety, youth welfare and the state's development rather than political rhetoric. It urged the BJP government to focus on governance and accountability instead of personal attacks on the Opposition. The party called for an open debate on issues affecting public interest, stressing that both the government and the Opposition were accountable to the people and should be judged by their policies and performance.
UNI MK MCR
Tags: #CJP detention row: BJD slams BJP chief's remarks against Naveen
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CJP detention row: BJD slams BJP chief's remarks against Naveen

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Bhubaneswar, Oct 21 (UNI) The Opposition BJD on Wednesday questioned the detention of CJP leaders Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka, stressing the need to uphold democratic rights and the rule of law while slamming BJP state president Manmohan Samal for his criticism of Naveen Patnaik.

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