Opposition parties in Odisha have intensified their protests against the whirlwind visits of 5T secretary VK Pandian to different districts of the state.
Intensifying its protest, the Congress workers on Thursday staged a protest ahead of Pandian’s visit to Jajpur. Wearing black T-shirts and showing black flags, the party workers staged a protest against the secretary’s visit to Dharmashala.
They staged a sit-in near the Gopabandhu statue and shouted slogans against the Odisha government and VK Pandian.
Meanwhile, Pandian is scheduled to take part in a public hearing at the Mahostav Grouund in Jaraka today. He will also take part in other programmes in different parts of the district.
“Though there are senior MLAs and MPs, the Chief Minister doesn’t have belief on anybody. He is sending a secretary level person for the public hearing,” said a protestor.
“Jaraka is not far away from Bhubaneswar and one could reach here by road. Then why this chopper ride? The public hearing is only a drama to deceive people and it will not be accepted anymore,” he added.
On the other hand, members of the Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan also staged protest against Pandian’s visit to the district on Thursday.
The protestors also had a scuffle with police while the former were on their way to the meeting venue. Later, police reportedly detained some of the members of the farmers’ wing.