Bhubaneswar: Annoyed over the arrest and ouster of the party delegation from riot-hit Kandhamal district, Orissa BJP leadership today decided to take up the matter with the state government.
Stating that BJP would do everything to ensure return of peace in Kandhamal, party's state president Suresh Pujari said they would also like to know from the government what prompted the district administration to arrest and drive out the team led by the national Vice-President and MP Jual Oram.

Describing it as an administrative decision, he said while party delegation had visited eight other districts to study the situation, it was denied permission in Kandhamal.

What came as an embarrassment for the party, a partner in the state government, is that they were driven out of the district in police escort even after the government lifted restriction on the entry of politicians into riot-hit areas.

"During our earlier meeting with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, we said that BJP team would visit Kandhamal only after lifting of restriction," Pujari pointed out.

"We demand relief and other assistance to the tribals and daily wage earners," Pujari said adding innocent persons must not be arrested and harassed.
Source : PTI