The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has hit out at BJP MLA Jaynarayan Mishra who allegedly assaulted an on-duty woman police officer on Wednesday, calling him a habitual offender. The BJD also demanded his dismissal as the of Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly
BJD Spokesperson Shreemayee Mishra on Thursday said that Jaynarayan Mishra is known to be a "habitual criminal", with 14 cases against him, including that of murder, for which he was in jail and is now on bail.
"We demand that Odisha BJP immediately removes Jaynarayan Mishra from the post of Leader of Opposition in Odisha Vidhan Sabha for his shocking and derogatory behaviour. Also, Odisha BJP and Jaynarayan Mishra should apologise to the 4.5 crore people of Odisha, especially the women," she said.
On Wednesday, a woman police officer accused Jaynarayan Mishra of assaulting her after accusing her of taking bribes, during a BJP protest in the Sambalpur district. A video of the incident has now surfaced that shows the BJP MLA and the woman officer pushing and shoving each other.
The BJD said that this was not the first instance of Jaynarayan Mishra having an altercation in the public. It said that the BJP MLA had misbehaved with COVID warriors in 2020, abusing those who were risking their lives to save others.
The BJD further listed out the crimes that Jaynarayan Mishra was allegedly involved in. "In 2017, he perpetuated a violent attack on a senior BJP party leader Shri. Samir Mohanty who is the present Odisha BJP State President. He was suspended by the BJP for 6 years for perpetuating an attack on BJP senior leader Samir Mohanty and the present BJP state president. He orchestrated fear in the BJP Party office in Sambalpur and openly challenged BJP leadership with violence," the BJD said in a statement.
The ruling party further stated that in 2018, he was arrested in a murder case as a criminal conspirator of an organised attack on minister Susant Singh's brother's car, in which BJP worker Dileshwar Sahu was killed.