Balasore: A row erupted when the Balasore panchayat samiti tried to hold a meeting Saturday even as the state government observed a seven-day mourning after the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The BJP-backed sarpanchs and samiti members opposed the bid that resulted in heated arguments between BJD and BJP sarpanchs and samiti members.
Tension prevailed on the block premises. Finally, the administration intervened in the matter and the meeting was cancelled.
The panchayat samiti meeting was to be held Friday. But it was cancelled after the government declared a holiday due to the former PM’s death.
As per government guidelines, once a meeting of the panchayat samiti is cancelled, the next date for the meeting is to be fixed. BJP leaders alleged that the guideline was not followed.
The samiti meeting was arranged Saturday while only BJD-backed sarpanchs and samiti members were aware of the meeting. The BJP-supported sarpanchs and samiti members alleged they were not aware of the meeting.
BDO Shankashan Behera was contacted on his cell phone, but he did not respond to the call.
Block chairperson Narayan Pradhan said all samiti members and sarpanchs were present at the condolence meeting Friday. It was decided that the meeting will be held Saturday, but some sarpanch and samiti members opposed it resulting in its cancellation, he added.
During a national mourning, no cultural programme is held but holding a meeting for development is not illegal, he observed.
PNN