Bhubaneswar, June 14 -- Leader of Opposition and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik today launched a blistering attack on the BJP government in Odisha over the alleged manhandling and arrest of Tikiri Gram Panchayat Sarpanch Chameli Ojha, accusing it of employing "repressive tactics" to silence elected representatives who raise public issues.
In a strongly worded post on X, Patnaik termed the incident involving the woman sarpanch of Mahakalapada block in Kendrapara district as an affront to democratic values and women's dignity.
"Odisha is witnessing the repressive tactics unleashed by the BJP government against a woman sarpanch for raising the voice of the people," Patnaik said, alleging that the treatment meted out to Ojha i...