BJP, BJD lock horns over Odisha minister’s ‘blessings’ remarks

BHUBANESWAR: Amid the BJP’s ongoing Jan Ashirwad Yatra, a tweet by Odisha’s education minister Arun Sahoo sparked sharp reactions from the saffron party leaders here on Friday.
Sahoo, in a post, wrote that forcing someone to bless without serving them and earning the blessing of someone without asking for it by working nonstop are different things. People of Odisha know the difference.
While Sahoo did not name anyone, the BJP leaders interpreted it as a dig at Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Ashwini Vaishnaw who sought people’s and Lord Jagannath’s blessings for Odisha’s development on Thursday even as the ministers embarked on party’s Jan Ashirwad Yatra. Dharmendra had tweeted a photo of the two ministers and state BJP president Samir Mohanty lying face down in front of the Jagannath temple. “With Lord’s blessings, let everyone stay happy and in peace,” he wrote.
Responding to Sahoo’s tweet, state BJP secretary Tankadhar Tripathy wrote back, “It seems education minister Arun Sahoo does not know that no one can force anyone to give blessings. People may bless those who mix with them, be part of them in their sorrow and happiness. One can’t get this if closeted in a room.”
BJP leader Lekhashree Samantsinghar said it’s unbecoming of a minister to stoop so low. “How can someone make fun of anyone seeking blessings of Lord Jagannath?” she said. Many BJP leaders also tweeted a “controversial” photograph of Sahoo spending some leisurely moment with section of priests of Jagannath temple in Puri when he was law minister. Sahoo, when contacted, declined to make further comment on his tweet.
While Dharmendra attended many inaugural and foundation stone laying events relating to the education ministry, Vaishnaw toured Rayagada and Koraput districts after an overnight train journey from Bhubaneswar to Rayagada.
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