Indus Valley Times

By Suryanarayan Panda 

Koraput, Sept. 18 : The Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Association-Koraput held an urgent meeting on Wednesday to condemn the alleged misconduct of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader during the launch event of the Subhadra Yojana at Vikram Deo University in Jeypore on Tuesday.

According to sources, the incident occurred shortly after local MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati delivered his speech at a public function organized by the Jeypore Municipality in collaboration with various blocks. The function was intended to celebrate the launch of the Subhadra Yojana, a flagship welfare initiative aimed at empowering women across the state.

However, tensions rose when a BJP state council member reportedly behaved inappropriately toward two senior government officials: Shakti Mohapatra, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Jeypore, and Siddharth Patnaik, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jeypore Municipality.

Details of the confrontation remain unclear, but eyewitnesses reported that the BJP leader’s conduct was disrespectful and uncalled for, causing significant disruption at the event.

In response to the incident, the OAS Association-Koraput convened a meeting where members expressed strong disapproval of the BJP leader’s actions. The association, representing administrative officers in the region, highlighted the importance of maintaining decorum, especially during public functions where government officials are performing their duties.

“The behavior exhibited was unacceptable and goes against the values of respect and professionalism that should be upheld by all individuals, especially during official functions,” the OAS Association-Koraput stated in a release after the meeting.

Following the meeting, the association formally submitted a complaint to “Koraput Collector V. Kreethi Vasan”, seeking prompt action against the BJP leader. The association stressed the need for appropriate measures to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future, particularly in a professional environment where government officials are working to serve the public.

In addition to their complaint to the district administration, the association has also lodged a formal report at the Jeypore police station, urging authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly and take necessary legal action against the BJP leader.

While the incident has sparked outrage among the administrative community, the BJP leader in question has yet to issue a public statement addressing the allegations. Local political observers note that this episode could lead to tensions between political leaders and administrative officers in the district, as the Subhadra Yojana launch was a high-profile event.

The OAS Association’s swift action signals the seriousness of the issue, and officials are now awaiting a response from both the district administration and law enforcement authorities regarding the next steps.

This incident underscores the need for political leaders and public officials to maintain mutual respect and professionalism, especially during events aimed at promoting welfare initiatives. The launch of Subhadra Yojana, which is designed to uplift women across the state, was meant to be a positive and constructive occasion, but it has now been overshadowed by controversy.