Would not resign under pressure from illegal forces: Naveen Patnaik

BHUBANESWAR: With the deadline by Maoists to Odisha MLA Jhina Hikaka, who had been held captive by them for over a month, to resign ending on Thursday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said today that he should not quit under pressure from 'illegal' forces.

"Any elected people's representative, including Jhina Hikaka, should not resign under pressure from illegal and unconstitutional forces", Patnaik told reporters here on his return from New Delhi.

Stating that the job of MLAs and MPs was to serve their constituencies, the chief minister said that they should continue to work for the people.

Hikaka, a 37-year-old tribal, who was released unharmed by Maoists on April 26 after 33 days, was reportedly directed by a Maoist 'people's court' to resign from his assembly membership and snap ties with the ruling BJD within 15 days.

The MLA who is staying with his wife and two sons at the MLA hostel here under tight security, when asked whether he would resign replied, "I will go by the suggestions of the chief minister".