Bhubaneswar: Alleging a larger conspiracy involving foreign and anti-national forces to destabilise the country, Odisha law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Thursday accused the Congress, Left parties and AAP of fomenting political unrest under the guise of student protests.Claiming that activist Abhijit Dipke who led the Cockroach Janata Party had links with AAP, Harichandan questioned the motives behind the agitation and alleged the involvement of anti-national elements.He said Rahul Gandhi is trying to create a “tandav“ in the name of question leaks while during Congress govts, question papers were leaked 59 times. “Today, when India is gaining global recognition, some foreign and anti-national forces are trying to create political unrest,” Harichandan said.The minister alleged that some organisations, influenced by foreign forces, were attempting to create unrest by mobilising students now and farmers earlier. “These are the same people who support China and questioned India’s surgical strikes in Pakistan,” he said.Questioning the support extended to the protests by groups abroad, Harichandan asked, “If the intentions are genuine, why are radical groups in Bangladesh supporting it? Why are Khalistani extremists in Canada backing it?” “There is a conspiracy to divide the country. The tukde-tukde gang is trying to destabilise the nation,” he alleged.While acknowledging that students may have genuine concerns, Harichandan said some people were exploiting the issue for political purposes. “In the name of students, some people are setting a dangerous precedent. Students should not be misled by politically motivated protests and should focus on their careers,” he added.Countering the minister, Congress Legislature Party leader in Odisha assembly Rama Chandra Kadam said the statement shows the govt’s insensitivity to genuine demands raised by students. “Instead of trying to resolve the problems, the govt is trying to defame the students. The brute forces used on the innocent students show the govt’s attitude towards its citizens,” he said.
