Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], January 11 (HBTV): The Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha State Assembly and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday regarding the detention of several Panchayat Raj representatives from Odisha in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund district.

Patnaik stated that the representatives, including sarpanches and Panchayat Samiti members from the Kirimira block in Odisha's Jharsuguda district, were detained by Chhattisgarh police in Mahasamund. He also highlighted the detention of Vishal Das, son of former Odisha minister Naba Das.

Calling the incident disturbing, Patnaik wrote, 'Panchayat Raj representatives like sarpanches and Panchayat Samiti members of the Kirimira block in Jharsuguda district were detained by Chhattisgarh police at the Sareipali police station in Mahasamund district.'

He noted that the detained representatives were supposed to participate in a no-confidence motion at 10:30 a.m. in the block premises. 'They could not attend the same as they were detained from yesterday midnight along with Vishal Das, son of a former cabinet minister in Odisha,' he added.

Patnaik urged the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister to intervene and secure their release. 'I would request you to look into this and get them released immediately and also to ensure their safety and security while they travel to the Odisha border. Many of those detained are women PRI members,' the letter stated.

In a separate development earlier this week, on January 6, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) staged a massive protest in Bhubaneswar, led by party president Naveen Patnaik, against the BJP government in Odisha over rising prices of essential commodities.

BJD workers and leaders gathered at Lower PMG Square in Bhubaneswar to voice their concerns. 'Today, Odisha is plagued by extremely high price rises, and inflation is affecting the people of Odisha. Raising the demand of the people, BJD is organising a massive protest today in Bhubaneswar led by our party president Naveen Patnaik,' BJD MP Sasmit Patra said.

Criticizing the BJP government in Odisha, Patra added, 'The BJP government in Odisha has completely failed the people of the state. The price rise of commodities is at an all-time high. From potatoes to onions, rice to sugar, every essential commodity and vegetable in Odisha is soaring sky-high. This is a fight not only of the BJD but of 4.5 crore people of Odisha. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has no clue how to run a government. His entire ministry and cabinet are extremely incompetent.'

(ANI)