Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the recent assault on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo, BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan on Tuesday broke his silence, claiming that his intervention was triggered by the alleged misbehavior of the official towards a female sanitation worker.
Pradhan admitted to having called the BMC Additional Commissioner, stating that he was reacting to a complaint from a ‘Swachh Saathi’ (sanitation worker) from Ward No. 34, who had accused Sahoo of misbehavior and undue pressure over her political participation. “I called him because he had reportedly spoken harshly to the woman and questioned her for joining a BJP rally,” Pradhan told the media.
According to Pradhan, when he asked the Additional Commissioner why he had allegedly humiliated the sanitation worker, the officer responded rudely, questioning, “Who are you to ask me?”
Following this, Pradhan reportedly posted on social media, saying, “Clapping needs two hands,” implying that allegation in the matter is not one-sided.
Pradhan also claimed that he had already raised this matter with the BMC Commissioner earlier. The female worker has since lodged a formal complaint at the Kharavel Nagar police station in this connection.
In a fresh twist to the case, Rebati Raut, the Swachh Saathi from Ward No. 34, has leveled serious allegations against BMC Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo.
Speaking to the media, Raut claimed that she was subjected to intimidation and threats of job termination for mobilizing 60–70 people to attend the recently held Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally.
She alleged that Sahoo, in coordination with her local corporator and the corporator’s husband, warned her that participating in BJP activities could cost her the job.
“He told me my service would be terminated if I continued supporting the BJP rally,” Raut alleged.
She further added that after she raised the issue with BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan, the latter called the BMC officer, which reportedly led to a heated exchange.
“When Jagannath Bhai called to question the mistreatment, Ratnakar Sir responded rudely. If we don’t get justice, we will take to protest,” said another Swachh Saathi supporting Raut’s claims.
This development comes in the aftermath of a shocking incident on Monday, where a group of miscreants entered the BMC office premises and physically assaulted Additional Commissioner Sahoo.
Police have already arrested three individuals in connection with the assault, while the administration is continuing its probe into the full sequence of events. On the other hand, senior civic officials have demanded stricter action and greater protection, calling the attack on a senior officer ‘an attack on governance.’
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