NEW DELHI, FEB 9: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today demanded imposition of President's Rule in Orissa and holding of fresh Assembly elections in the State."I consider Orissa the right case for imposition of Central Rule under Article 356 and a fresh poll be ordered in the State in view of total breakdown of law and order," BJD president and Union Steel and Mines Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters here.The BJD demand comes within hours of J B Patnaik's decision to step down from his post owning moral responsibility for violent incidents in the State.Replying to questions, Naveen Patnaik accused Congress president Sonia Gandhi of neglecting Orissa by allowing J B Patnaik to continue as Chief Minister and said her decision asking Patnaik to resign "is too little and too late.""The Congress high command has been a mute spectator to incidents like the Anjana Mishra gang rape, killing of the Australian missionary and his two minor sons, alleged rape of a nun and the killing of two Christian youth in the State," he alleged.Naveen Patnaik said, ``It is unfortunate that tragedy follows scandal and scandal follows tragedy in Orissa under the Congress Government''.He parried a question on the action his party would take if the Centre did not accept his demand to impose President's Rule.Earlier, in a statement, the BJD welcomed J B Patnaik's decision to step own from his post but said the "misrule" of the Congress Government will end only if a fresh Assembly election was ordered."The pervasive misrule of the Congress State Government with its corruption, scandals, atrocities, law and order problems, lack of safety for minorities and ill-treatment of women will end only if the people's wishes are permitted to prevail by ordering a fresh election," the statement said.The BJD leader said Patnaik's decision to resign from chief ministership "brings great relief'' to the people of Orissa, adding his party will remain vigilant about the law and order and as the leading Opposition party of Orissa, will continue to function as a watchdog to prevent further misrule in the State.In another statement, Bhatruhari Mahtab, a BJD MP, said, "Instead of effecting a cosmetic change by choosing a handpicked nominee, the Congress. should go in for fresh elections.""People of Orissa have seen through the Congress design. It is high time people are given a chance to elect a new government," he said."J B Patnaik's continuation was remote controlled ever since Sonia Gandhi took over as Congress president. His days were numbered since long. It resurrects the ailing, corrupt Congress surviving on dialysis; a belated attempt has been made by Congress president. But even if the operation is successful the patient is already dead," Mahtab said.
