Bhubaneswar: Alleging close links between Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress organised a symbolic ‘marriage ceremony’ between the two parties in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
The ‘wedding’ was solemnised at Master Canteen Square with a priest conducting a yajna with amid chanting of hymns. While wedding cards were designed and distributed, a mandap was set up for exchange of vows between BJP and BJD at the venue.
Activists of National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), the student Wing of Congress, were seen distributing the invitations and putting up posters. Congress also released a song “BJP sange BJD ra bahaghara” to which party members including Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar and senior leader and Jatani MLA Suraesh Routray were seen shaking a leg.
Both BJD and BJP were in a live-in relationship for the last 23 years and our party is now finally making it official by getting them married, a Congress leader said.
Congress leaders alleged that leaders of BJP and BJD were virtually supporting each other in major issues. BJD supported BJP’s demonetisation move aided election of Ashwini Vaishnaw to the Rajya Sabha besides backing Citizenship (Amendment) Act, they claimed, adding that BJD also helped the BJP to weaken the RTI.
On several issues including Mamita Meher death, Mahanga double murder and Naba Das’s killing, both the BJP and the BJD supported each other in shielding the accused, Congress leaders claimed. They also alleged that the Central agencies like Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI have softened their stance towards BJD leaders because of support by BJP.
Reacting to his, BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal said this is a narrative jointly conceived and propagated by the Congress and the ruling BJD.