State BJP to stage dharna from July 4 to 8

BHUBANESWAR: The Bharatiya Janata Party, which has joined the anti-Posco bandwagon, on Friday announced that it will stage a dharna in front of the Jagatsinghpur Collectorate from July 4 and continue till July 8. Addressing media persons, president of BJP SC/ST Cell Baidhar Mallick criticised the land acquisition process by the State Administration. The manner in which the drive is going on despite the resistance from the local residents is undemocratic, he said. The BJP said the Posco Steel Project as well as the captive port proposed by the Korean company are against the interest of the State because of the clauses such as iron ore swapping and Special Economic Zone facilities. Stating that the party will continue to oppose such anti-Orissa move by the Biju Janata Dal Government, the BJP has decided to stick to its agitation. While the dharna in front of Jagatsinghpur Collector will continue for five days, the party plans to stage a mass dharna in front of Raj Bhawan here on July 13. A memorandum will also be submitted to the Governor in this connection.