Jay Panda’s Pakistan analogy kicks up controversy

Bhubaneswar, Oct 18 : Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) national vice-president Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda on Sunday landed himself in a controversy on the internet by allegedly comparing the law and order situation in Odisha with that of Pakistan.
The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) came down heavily on Panda for his remark.
“Shameful how Maharashtra & Odisha police simply “pick up” & assault journalists & do custodial interrogation, without following the basic process of law, like in Pakistan. This is real fascism. Please speak up for Ramesh Rath of @otvnews & @pradip103 of @republic,” tweeted Panda.
Panda’s tweet came after senior journalist Ramesh Rath of Odisha Television Limited (OTV) was picked up by the police here on Thursday in connection with a viral fake sex video of a female BJD MP.
The leading vernacular news channel is run by Jagi Mangat Panda, wife of Jay Panda.
The tweet has triggered a controversy on the internet with the ruling BJD leaders mounting a scathing attack claiming that Panda has equated Odisha with Pakistan.