Four days after the release of Jhina Hikaka from Maoist captivity,Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday questioned why the BJD MLA should resign.
Why should anyone who has been elected democratically resign under pressure? Patnaik said while replying to a reporters question whether Hikaka should resign as demanded by the Maoists.
Later in the day,the CM met Hikaka and his family.
The Maoists,who had hauled up Hikaka before a praja (peoples) court before releasing him unharmed on April 26,had asked him to resign within 15 days and claimed that the legislator had given a written assurance to them as such and that he would also quit the BJD.