Bhubaneswar, July 2: Senior BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan on Wednesday said the recent Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) incident was “unfortunate and condemnable,” and offered full cooperation with any legal proceedings for the best interest of Odisha and the State government.

In a social media post, Pradhan said, “For the past two days, the opposition has been trying to cook a political narrative out of the BMC incident. I have said it before, and I say it again—this incident is deeply saddening and deserves strong condemnation.”

He emphasized that the law and order situation in the state is deteriorating, with administrative paralysis becoming increasingly evident. “As the State moves toward administrative stagnation, lawlessness is beginning to surface. In light of this, I reiterate my respect for the law and assure full cooperation with any legal proceedings,” he added.

Pradhan’s remarks came amid mounting pressure from various quarters, including the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Association, which has demanded his arrest in connection with the alleged assault on BMC Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo.

While Pradhan has denied his direct involvement in the incident, he acknowledged that the incident was regrettable and called for lawful action.

The controversy has sparked a political storm in Odisha, with opposition BJD as well as OAS Officers Association and ORS Officers Association demanding accountability and enhanced security for government officials across the State.

Meanwhile, the BJP has suspended several party workers allegedly involved in the incident.

As investigations continue, Pradhan’s statement appears to be an attempt to distance himself from the violence while reinforcing his party’s commitment to legal due process.

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