Alleging wayward education policy, excess and undue compassion for private educational institutes and rising unemployment, the members of Chatra Congress set out a march towards Naveen Niwas in a bid to gherao it on Wednesday. However, they were waylaid by the police during the march, following which a scuffle ensued between them near Shishu Bhawan chhak in Bhubaneswar.
The protesters tried to topple the barricade and also allegedly threw tomatoes at the police.
Chatra Congress president Yashir Nawaz said, “Naveen Patnaik’s time as Chief Minister is nearing its end. So, we will not demand anything anymore. We will change the government this time.”
“BJD government has destroyed the education system in Odisha. There are no teachers and lecturers to teach the students. Question papers continue to leak even before the exams begin. People are getting admission with fake certificates. There is a rise in ragging too. Students are getting high on narcotics substances in almost every college campus. Even if some students pass out from college, they do not get any employment opportunities here,” alleged Nawaz.
“The BJD government has not opened any school or college during its tenure. They rather encouraged opening of private schools and colleges which are exploiting the parents through exorbitant fees. Students have now risen. Change of government is imminent. We will show it to the world,” Nawaz asserted.
Senior Congress leader and Jatni MLA, Suresh Routray, who was also with the student Congress members in the protest march, said, “There will certainly be a change this time. We will fill all the vacant teacher and lecturer posts in the schools and colleges.”
Later, some protesting Congress members were picked up by the police following the scuffle.
No comments could be obtained from the leaders of the Biju Janata Dal on the allegations of the Congress workers.