Rourkela: The six-hour Odisha Bandh called by the Congress party on Monday against the steep fuel price hike in the country caused much inconvenience to a bridegroom who was returning to Rourkela with his newly-wed bride.
As per reports, the groom was returning to Rourkela with the bride following the sloemnisation of marriage rituals in Berhampur on February 14 night. However, the new chapter in his life that was supposed to be written along with his newly wedded wife was abruptly delayed by hours after protesting Congress workers picketing on SH-10 near Rajgangpur blocked the road. This came on the way of the impending celebrations back home.
A visibly fatigued groom who was waiting for hours for his moment of freedom told OTV, "I left Berhampur at around midnight after the wedding got over. Though I thought I will make it to Rourkela before the bandh commenced at 7 am, I could actually manage to reach upto Rajgangpur."
"We have been travelling throughout the night and have not eaten anything. Though they have assured to let the marriage party vehicles move, we are still detained till now," added the groom.
It is worthwhile to mention here that given the hundreds of marriages scheduled for Valentine's Day on February 14, the Congress party had exempted the newlyweds from the 6-hour bandh on Monday. However, some reports of marriage party vehicles being detained by the picketers brought ire from across all quarters.
Meanwhile, the Rourkela groom was allowed to continue his journey with his bride in tow following the intervention of some senior Congress leaders after hours of detainment.