The state wing of the Congress led by its president Sarat Patnaik on Friday gheraoed Raj Bhawan as part of nationwide protests against rampant unemployment, GST hike and price rise, among other things.
Also , members belonging to the district units of the party mobbed district collectorate slamming the union and the state government for price rise and unemployment.
In the state capital, the agitators held a protest meet at ADM office before heading to Governor House. When they were marching towards Governor House, police prevented them from entering Governor’s House. Irate Congress activists sat on a dharna on the road. The Congress leaders came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the sorry state of the country.
Senior congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati said, “Modi government had taken votes manipulating people in the name of ‘acchhe din’. He had once used the term ‘anti-nationals’ for those who increase fuel and diesel price. Today it is proved that Modi is a traitor. Imposing GST on food items like puffed rice is shameful.”
Labelling food and fuel as major factors for the rising inflation, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Sarat Patnaik said, “The BJP government should withdraw the inflated rates of goods and other items for the wellbeing of common people. Poor should be tax free. I would like to thank people for supporting us in this protest.”
BJP leader Prithiviraj Harichandan said, “Economic cycle never remains permanent because currencies fluctuate based on supply and demand. At a time when the whole world fell prey to economic downturn which severely disrupted economic growth worldwide, India was saved thanks to leader like Modi. Political party like Congress should understand it.”
Police arrested several Congress activists including Sarat Patnaik, Prasad Harichandan, Jaydev Jena and several senior Congress leaders.