MLA was kidnapped as BJD did not honour deal: Cong

Biju Janata Dal member of Legislative Assembly Jhina Hikaka was kidnapped as his party did not honour a "secret deal" struck with the Maoist-backed Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha during the recent Zilla Parishad elections, opposition Congress Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan alleged on Tuesday.

"The BJD leadership during the recent Zilla Parishad elections forged a secret deal to secure vote of the CMAS's lone candidate to form the Zilla Parishad," Harichandan alleged in the assembly.

Hikaka was kidnapped by Maoists as the government did not fulfill conditions of the agreement, he claimed and dubbed the BJD regime a "Maoist government" which was   responsible for the abduction.

Harichandan claimed that Hikaka was among four BJD MLAs besides the BJD member of Parliament from Koraput who were signatories to the agreement.

He said the incident was an outcome the BJD's "unholy" nexus with the CMAS, an organisation banned by the state government in 2006.

Asking the chief minister to reply how his party took the help of an organisation allegedly having links with Maoists, he said, "Maoists have abducted two Italian nationals and an MLA besides killing two security personnel in last 15 days.

"This is not simply an abduction of an MLA, but abduction of the state's authority which has knelt down before the Maoists," he said participating in an adjournment motion on 'MLA abducted, Does Government exist?'

Harichandan also alleged that non-fulfilment of government's earlier promises to Maoists during the abduction of former Malkangiri district collector R Vineel Krishna, was another reason behind the abductions in the state.

Krishna was abducted by Maoists in February last year and the government had agreed to fulfill their 14 point charter of demands.

"We demand a reply from the government on how many of the 14 agreements were met," Harichandan said. Though the state government claimed that Maoist violence was on the decline, 24 of the 30 districts were affected, he said.

Noting that the Centre had provided 13 battalions of central para-military forces, a helicopter and huge funds to he state government for tackling Maoists, he said violence by he ultras was on the rise.

Speaker Pradip Kumar allowed the debate, but cautioned participants not to say anything which could affect the release of the hostage.