With demand for arrest of Congress leader Jagdish Tytler growing over his alleged provocative speech at a party rally here on September 6, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee today blamed it on failure to understand Hindi by a section of people.

"Some people consider Tytler's speech provocative as they do not understand Hindi. Mr Tytler's speech was purely political in nature. Above all, one should not expect that he would praise Naveen Patnaik," OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik told PTI.

"Mr Tytler has not delivered any provocative speech. OPCC had organised the rally with a call to 'Gherao Bidhan Sabha'. Mr Tytler in his speech asked party members to break the police cordon. This is not at all provocative or instigating," the OPCC president said.

He also said the word 'beiman' (dishonest) used by Tytler at the rally was not provocative.

"If you rightly recall, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik himself had recently described one of his party MPs as 'beiman'. What is wrong if Tytler calls Naveen 'beiman'?" he said.

Meanwhile, the Odisha Constable, Havildar and Sepoy Mahasangha president Padmanav Behera met Home Secretary U N Behera and demanded the arrest of Tytler and others for their alleged provocative speech which led to a clash where over 60 policemen were injured and a woman constable assaulted.

"The state government has been examining charges against Tytler and others. Appropriate steps will be taken against some persons under the law," a senior home department official said.

BJD had yesterday demanded arrest of Tytler, while Odisha Police Association had made a similar demand earlier.

Tytler and union minister V Narayansamy were scheduled to visit the state capital on September 13 and address a press conference here.

"Let them arrest him, if they can. We are ready for it," Niranjan Patnaik said.

FIRs have been lodged for rioting, criminal conspiracy, causing grievous injury, endangering lives of others, outraging modesty and mischief to destroy, under different sections of IPC and Prevention of Destruction of Public Property Act against Tytler and Niranjan Patnaik.