BJD launch stir against Polavaram project, CJCJ joins in

Bhubaneswar, Sep 20: The anti-Polavaram project stir got new impetus today with the Chhattisgarh Janata Congress (Jogi) joining hands with Odisha's ruling BJD which held simultaneous demonstrations in seven southern districts of the state demanding a halt to the construction.

The BJD workers held demonstrations in front of the Collectors' office at Kandhamal, Ganjam, Rayagada, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur. While BJD Spokesperson Rabi Narayan Nanda led the demonstrations in Koraput, state Transport Minister Ramesh Majhi and senior leader Bhupinder Singh led the show in Nabarangpur.

Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Das Burma and Rajya Sabha MP N Bhaskar Rao led the campaign in Rayagada, senior spokesperson Surya Narayan Patro and MP Sidhant Mohapatra led the campaign in Ganjam.

The party has announced to carry out strikes across the seven districts from October 1. Meanwhile, the CJCJ under the leadership of Amit Jogi and Dharamjit Singh today undertook a 'bus yatra' from Jagdalpur in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh to Malkangiri in Odisha, to protest against the construction of the proposed Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh.

The CJCJ leaders joined the BJD protest rally on Polavaram near Malkangiri Collector's office, along with Odisha Urban Development minister Pushpendra Singhdeo and Malkangiri MLA Manas Madkami. "We have first joined Telangana Rashtra Samithi and now Biju Janata Dal. The CHCJ is working towards unifying regional forces and rise to protect the interests of all states in the region," Jogi said.

Son of Chhattisgarh's first Chief Minister Ajit Jogi and Marwahi MLA Amit Jogi has been on the forefront to protest the Polavaram project that would have an adverse affect on the lives of endangered tribal lives in Bastar region.

"Whether in Bastar or in Odisha, the land where innocent tribal people's live is equivalent to his mother," Jogi said. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress questioned the intention of the demonstrations. "I wonder why the government has not applied for a stay order from the Supreme Court yet.

The Supreme Court won't be a silent spectator if at all the project affects the interests of the state and violates laws and the Constitution," Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Narasingha Mishra said. "This means, the state government is not interested to protect the interests of the state," he added.

PTI