BJD, BJP Workers clash at Malatipatapur over Dharmendra Pradhan

During the inauguration of Malatipatapur Railway Station in Puri district, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan faced vociferous protests from the BJD workers. The protest was fully organised, as they shouted slogans against Pradhan and asked him to go back. They also wanted his resignation over his alleged link with a Vyapam accused.

The BJP workers present at the inauguration ceremony hit back, resulting in a clash. Workers from both parties almost came to blows. Union Minister Suresh Prabhu, who inaugurated the Railway Station in Malatipatapur, was surprised at the unruly scenes.

The BJD cadres, who held similar protests against Dharmendra Pradhan at various places of Odisha, also shouted slogans against the Union Petroleum Minister at the flagging off of the passenger train at Begunia. They chanted ‘Naveen Patnaik Zindabad’ and ‘Go Back Dharmendra Pradhan’.

Dharmendra Pradhan is under attack after the NDTV reports shows a mining baron Sudhir Sharma footing his travel expenses in 2010-2013. Pradhan has already clarified that all expenses were made by the party and he did not know who booked the tickets.

The BJP has strongly condemned the incident. BJP leader Prithviraj Harichandan warned the BJD against doing such things. “Can you handle the situation if our cadres throw eggs at your leader Naveen Patnaik like the Youth Congress?” he asked.