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Journalism of Courage
Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Sharad Yadav was manhandled by activists of the Orissa Dhana Chasi Suraksha Samiti on his arrival at the Bhubaneswar International Airport today.
Shouting slogans, the activists climbed onto Yadav’s official vehicle in the high security zone of the airport, leaving his kurta torn and his car damaged. Surprisingly, no security arrangements had been made at the airport.
Criticising the police failure to protect him, Yadav described the attack on him as ‘‘politically motivated’’. ‘‘I do not believe how such a thing can happen in a high security zone in the airport’’, he said.
Yadav’s two-day visit at the invitation of Independent MLA from Dhamnagar, Manas Ranjan Mallik, has kicked up a controversy as the latter is a critic of the BJD-BJP government in the state. Mallik, who had contested as a BJD rebel, had defeated state BJP chief Manmohan Samal from Dhamnagar constituency.
Later, Mallik and activists of the Biju Sangharsa Bahinee staged a dharna in front of Naveen Nivas in protest.
Yadav is also scheduled to visit Dhamnagar with Mallik where he will address several meetings.
