BJP protests over Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik’s and not PM’s posters outside vaccination centres disrupt drive

ANGUL/ BALASORE/ KORAPUT: BJP workers on Monday staged protests at vaccination centres In different parts of the state over the display of chief minister Naveen Patnaik‘s posters and handing over of slips with Naveen”s photographs to vaccinated people. They demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s poster’s as well outside these centres.
The vaccination of people in 18-44 years of age was disrupted for a few minutes at the UGM Institute of Technology, one of the vaccination centres In the district headquarters town of Rayagada, following protests by BJP workers over the absence of Modi’s photo outside it.
Led by BJP leader Basant Ulaka, a group of activists belonging to the saffron party barged into the vaccination centre and stopped the vaccination drive alleging that the state government has deliberately not put the PM’s poster to hijack the credit for the Centre’s tree vaccination drive. It was, however resumed after the BJP activists left the centre.
Similarly at Jeypore in Koraput district, the BJP members demanded the withdrawal of the distribution of slips carrying the chief minister’s photo.
In Balasore, the BJP workers staged a similar protest at Gandhi Smruti Bhawan against an LED screen running speeches of CM alongside his posters and banners inside the vaccination hall, while there was not a single photo of the PM.
While a massive vaccination drive was going on in Angul stadium, some saffron party activists stormed the centre and tore up photos and posters of Naveen.
Describing the BJP protest as unfortunate, BJD general secretary (media in-charge) and government’s media adviser Manas Mangaraj said, “The CM’s message is meant to create awareness. He is requesting people to continue wearing masks and stick to Covid-appropriate behaviours. Nobody should object to it.”
Union minister of state Pratap Chandra Sarangi made a series of tweets accusing the BJD government of trying to appropriate the central government initiative.
The practice of appropriating the creditable initiative of the Central Government by the Government of Odisha continues unabated. Projecting the free #COVID19 vaccination programme of Central Govt. as its own and hijacking the same by putting only the photographs of @CMO_Odisha, point to cheap politics, Sarangi tweeted.

Let’s hope, good sense prevails on the state government and the national mission for universal vaccination against Covid-19 is accomplished, another tweet by the Union minister reads.

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