BJD accuses BJP of personal attacks over CJP leaders' release demand

The Biju Janata Dal on Wednesday condemned what it termed as unwarranted personal attacks by the Bharatiya Janata Party against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over his recent demand for the release of CJP leaders.

The political row emerged after Patnaik publicly called for the liberation of the detained CJP activists. In response, the BJP launched a counter-offensive, suggesting that the Chief Minister's actions were motivated by a desire to engineer political instability akin to the situation witnessed in Bangladesh.

BJD leaders rejected the BJP's characterisation as baseless and politically motivated. The regional party contended that Patnaik's position reflected genuine concerns about the detained leaders and was not driven by ulterior political motives as the BJP had suggested.

The dispute highlights growing tensions between the two parties in the eastern state. The BJD, which has governed Odisha for over two decades, has increasingly found itself at odds with the BJP, particularly over policy matters and civil liberties issues.

The controversy underscores the deepening political divide in the state as both parties gear up for electoral contests in the coming months.