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Odisha CM Patnaik rules out Hikaka's resignation under Maoists pressure | Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday cleared reports over Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jhina Hikaka's resignation, saying there was no reason
for a person elected democratically to step down from his post. "Why should anyone
who has been elected democratically ever resign under pressure? I do not believe
in that at all," said Patnaik. He also said there are no thoughts about a ministry
reshuffle. Patnaik further informed that Hikaka has been with his family after
his release. "I am very glad that for the last four days, the young MLA Jhina
Hikaka has been with his family and friends at his home in Lakshmipur," he said.
The 37-year-old tribal MLA, who was released unharmed by Maoists on April 26 at
a village in Koraput, is expected to meet Patnaik later today. Hikaka was released
33 days after he was abducted from the same district by the rebels. Hikaka was
reportedly escorted by a group of tribals to Balipeta village in Maoist-affected
Narayanpatna area, where he was believed to have been produced in a Maoist 'praja'
court, which agreed to set him free. He was handed over by the tribals to his
wife, Kaushalya Majhi, and a lawyer who fights cases for the ultras and their
frontal organisations, Nihar Ranjan Patnaik. The decision to free Hikaka was taken
by a people's court after he gave a written undertaking that he will resign from
the state assembly and also try to fulfill the Maoists' demands. Hikaka was kidnapped
near Toyaput after a large group of armed men stopped him as he was being driven
through a hilly area some 500 kilometres away from Bhubaneswar on March 24. |
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