"Dividing people of the state for their own politics": Priyanka Chaturvedi slams BJP over Cuttack clashes

New Delhi [India], October 6 (ANI): Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Monday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the violent clashes in Cuttack during Durga Puja idol immersion, accusing the ruling party of dividing the people of Odisha for political gains.
She said the state, which had remained peaceful under the BJD, is now witnessing clashes due to the BJP's politics.
Speaking to ANI, Priyanka Chaturvedi said, "This is so unfortunate. A state like Odisha, which had very peaceful people living there, with no clashes when the BJD was in power, suddenly with the BJP coming to power, the dynamics on the ground have changed...What has happened in Cuttack is a sad reflection of what the Bharatiya Janata Party, when in government, can do to the people of the state, dividing the people of the state for their own politics."
Chaturvedi urged authorities to restore law and order and ensure those responsible are arrested.
"Extremely unfortunate and I hope the law and order prevail and people of Odisha realise that they are being used as mere tools to create fights amongst the two groups, so as to create more tension and to politically benefit the BJP. I hope that the people of Odisha will see through this politics and maintain peace, calm and all those who are behind these clashes should be arrested as soon as possible and for VHP to enter the equation, for anyone else to enter the equation, again speaks volumes about what the agenda truly is," Chaturvedi said.
Amid the violent clashes during the Durga Puja idol immersion in Cuttack, Odisha, on September 4, a curfew has been imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for 36 hours, until October 7.
Speaking on the restrictions imposed under the curfew, Additional Police Commissioner Narasingha Bhola said that all commercial establishments would remain closed, further stating that hospitals, schools, and colleges would remain open.
He further stated that a total of 60 platoons of state police forces have been deployed apart from the paramilitary forces, including the Rapid Action Force, Border Security Forces, Central Reserve Police Force and the Odisha Swift Action Force. (ANI)