Bhubaneswar: A BJP delegation, led by Nabarangpur MP Balabhadra Majhi, on Wednesday visited Sijimali, where 70 people were injured during a clash with police following protests against a road for a proposed bauxite mine on April 7. It assured the residents that their grievances would be addressed.In a statement, the BJP said the mining lease was granted in Sijimali area under Kashipur block of Rayagada district in 2023, during the previous BJD govt’s tenure. Alleging several legal irregularities in the lease process and opposing the construction of the road, the agitators submitted a memorandum, detailing their grievances, to the delegation.The BJP said that “conflicting statements” and “misleading remarks” by various political parties had created fear among the local residents. The residents, however, alleged that the administration had been harassing people in the Kashipur area over the mining issue, filing false cases and detaining residents, including pregnant women and children, allegedly during late-night operations.Addressing the issue, Majhi said the alleged injustice and atrocities against Sijimali residents in recent days would be resolved. “No injustice will be done. We have held detailed discussions with the local residents as well as police, administration and the district collector,” he said.Majhi added that the delegation would apprise chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi and state BJP president Manmohan Samal of the ground situation and the discussions held with local residents.The high-level BJP delegation visited the area on the directions of Samal to assess the law-and-order situation in the Sijimali area.The tribal residents of Rayagada village have been protesting the construction of a road linked to a Vedanta Group bauxite mining block.
