Women & Child Development Minister Tukuni Sahu faced a massive protest from Opposition party workers during her visit to Sambalpur on Wednesday for distribution of BSKY smart health cards.
Hundreds of BJP and Congress workers raised slogans outside Dak Bungalow where Sahu was present and barred her from leaving the spot. The protesters alleged attacks on their party workers by the members of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday during Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's visit to the constituency on a government function.
Soon, BJD workers also reached the spot and raised slogans in support of Odisha govt. However, the situation escalated at the spot following the confrontation between BJD and Opposition party workers.
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In order to control the face-off from spiraling further, police picked up many BJP and Congress supporters and detained them.
"BJD workers repeated the same mistakes that they did yesterday. This should not happen in a Democracy," said Rabi Narayan Nayak, General Secretary of State BJP.
On the other hand, Congress leader Rajendra Chhatria threatened that their party will intensify protest across the State against the hooliganism of the ruling party.
"We object the hooliganism of BJD. If need arises, we will take our protest to every panchayat and across the state.
Meanwhile, Police have deployed adequate force in the area to prevent any untoward situation.
Notably, the two major Opposition parties in Odisha are observing a 2-hour shutdown in Kuchinda area of the district today protesting the alleged attacks on their party workers by BJD. The bandh is being observed from 6 am to 6 pm.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)