Odisha Congress observes fast over communalism

Bhubaneswar: As part of the protest called by All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Rahul Gandhi to protect and promote communal harmony across the country in wake of caste violence during the April 02 Bharat Bandh, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) observed a day-long fast across the State today.

Congress supporters across the State sat under Mahatma Gandhi statues as part of their peaceful protest.

"As per the ideology of Gandhiji, we have started our protest to protect the interest of Dalits in the country. For the interest of the masses, Congress always gets united," said senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik.

Senior party leader and former Union minister Srikant Jena said, "The BJP has created a constitutional crisis-like situation in the country. Congress party has always fought to protect the constitution and will continue to do so."

In 2019, Congress will form the government at Centre and the same will happen in Odisha, Jena added.

"The BJP is ruling the country at gunpoint and to protest it, we have gathered here. As per the instruction of the party's national president Rahul Gandhi, we are sitting on a peaceful protest," said Mohammad Moquim, Cuttack Nagar Congress president.

Earlier today, Rahul Gandhi arrived at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat in Delhi and led the protest terming BJP as anti-dalit and anti-farmer.