Police high-handedness: OPCC stages ‘dharna’ at Raj Bhawan

The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Thursday staged a demonstration in Bhubaneswar protesting against the police’s alleged high-handedness against its leaders who were agitating in New Delhi showing solidarity with Rahul Gandhi.  

A rally under the leadership of OPCC president Sarat Pattanayak was taken out from the ADM’s office in Bhubaneswar and it culminated at the Raj Bhawan. Leaders and workers from across Odisha took part in the demonstration. 

The grand old party alleged that while the Narendra Modi-led government is autocratic, the police are vindictive. 

OPCC president Pattanayak termed the police action as undemocratic. 

“We would like to warn the BJP government that the OPCC wouldn’t tolerate the way it is harassing and conspiring against Rahul Gandhi through the ED, without any good reason. We the leaders and workers are standing by the Gandhi family. The people of the country will teach them (BJP ) a befitting lesson in the 2024 election,” said Pattanayak. 

Senior Congress leader and Jatni MLA Suresh Routray said the BJP is harassing Rahul Gandhi with malice afterthought. “We condemn the way the police assaulted party leaders in the party office. We are united to teach it a lesson in the coming days,” Routray said.