Bhubaneswar: Management at Bali Yatra came in for criticism from BJD and Congress, who highlighted an electrocution incident at the fair to target the BJP. Responding to it, the BJP claimed the opposition was trying to gain political mileage by targeting an event of international significance.
BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said a Plus II student died of electrocution in the Bali Yatra ground. “It proves that the district administration has not taken any safety precautions to stop such types of untoward incidents. The incident happened due to the insensivity of the festival organisers. Compensation of Rs 20 lakh should be given to the next of kin of the deceased,” Mohanty said.
“It seems the Cuttack district administration has forgotten how to organise Bali Yatra festival. We saw the chief minister was also not happy with the organisers of the festival,” he claimed.
Mohanty alleged that the district administration did not even print the name of chief minister Mohan Majhi on the invitation card. “BJP members are deciding who will attend the festival. I don’t think the district administration is following protocol. Even the BJP MLA did not speak Odia at the inaugural ceremony,” the BJD spokesperson claimed.
Barabati Cuttack Congress MLA Sofia Firdous condemned the mismanagement at Bali Yatra by the district administration. She also criticised the organisers for not printing the chief minister’s name on the invitation card.
Responding to the charges, transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena said BJD and Congress are doing this to stay relevant. “As BJD has lost power after 24 years of ruling, they are still suffering from a hangover. They are doing this to get people’s attention. But people do not give importance to BJD,” Jena said.