ODISHA GOVERNMENT HAS A SIGH OF RELIEF AFTER THE RELEASE OF HIKAKA

ODISHA GOVERNMENT HAS A SIGH OF RELIEF AFTER THE RELEASE OF HIKAKA 27/04/2012

SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,ODISHA
ODISHA NEWS/BHUBANESWAR:


Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his happiness over release of Lakshmipur MLA Jina Hikaka. "I am very glad and relieved that Hikaka is released after 34 days of captivity. I am sure the entire State is extremely happy," said an elated Patnaik.


"I am very happy that the Jhina Hikaka is on his way to his family in Lakshmipur. Two weeks ago I was with his family in Lakshmipur in our Koraput district. And his mother, an old lady, was extremely distressed, as you can imagine and recently has been unwell. And his wife, his two small children were in great distress and very anxious," said Patnaik.

"So, all I can say is I am very glad. We are relieved, all of us, I am sure in the entire beautiful state of ours are extremely relieved that he is freed today to go back to his wife, his two sons and to his mother," he added.


On the otherhand the opposition criticised the state government's role in handling BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka hostage crisis, even as it welcomed the release of the legislator after 33 days of captivity. "We are happy that the MLA has been set free but the episode has exposed the rapidly worsening law and order situation. It seems the government does not exist in Orissa," Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee chief Niranjan Patnaik said.


BJP president Jual Oram said, "it is good that the tribal MLA is now free but it shows the state government has failed to perform its duty...All tall claims made by the state government about working for the welfare and uplift of tribals have been proved hollow."


Ending the 34-day hostage ordeal, the Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of the CPI(Maoist) had finally set the ruling Biju Janata Dal MLA Jhina Hikaka free on Thursday sans any mediation, as the State Government heaved a sigh of relief. Hikaka who was left by the Maoists in the hands of the people of a small village near Balipeta, reached the earmarked spot located under the remote Nayaranpatna block in the Koraput district at 10.30 am.