College students in BJD's protest rally in Bhubaneswar raises questions 

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders and workers on Monday took out a protest rally in Bhubaneswar over rising prices of essential commodities. 

But what raised many eyebrows is the participation of many college-going minor students in the rally, in violation of the guidelines that debar minors from participating in political rallies. 

As per reports, alleging that the BJP government has completely failed in controlling the price rise, the BJD leaders and workers took out a rally, raising slogans against the newly elected BJP government in the state.

Also Read: BJD leaders and workers hit Bhubaneswar streets over soaring prices in Odisha

Surprisingly, many Plus II first-year students of Ramadevi University were seen in the rally; more so, they were in uniform. 

When asked who allowed them to take part in the rally, their answer was that a Plus III student of the same university had asked them to join the rally. When asked why they came, they said they joined because they had all been invited by the BJD. 

The students said they were asked to join the rally as they are also suffering from the rising prices of fuel. During the interaction, they also revealed it that they had to bunk classes to join the rally. 

Many questioned how students were allowed to take part in a political rally. It is suspected that they may have been pressured to join the rally. 

Also Read: BJD to launch protest on Jan 6 holding govt responsible for price rise; BJP hits back

Regarding this, BJD leader Arun Sahoo was also contacted. Though he didn’t say anything on camera, off camera, he said the students participated in the rally as the protest was also called by the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal.