Odisha: Youth Congress Holds 'Akrosh Samavesh' Against Unemployment, Fuel Price Hike Issues

Bhubaneswar: The youth wing of Congress on Friday organised Yuva Akrosh Samavesh protesting large-scale unemployment in Odisha and the rise in fuel prices.

OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik, AICC secretary Rudra Raju, State youth Congress president Smrutiranjan Lenka, other leaders and supporters were present in the convention. Youth Congress National president Srinivas B V also joined the protest.

After welcoming Srinivas B V at the airport, the Youth Congress activists took out a motorcycle rally from the airport to Congress Bhawan.

“As like Odisha, the youths are being neglected across the country. In order to express their anger, the youth Congress is conducting the programme. It is organised peacefully,” PCC chief Niranjan Patnaik said.

Asked whether the convention will have any impact, Patnaik said, “As a political party, we are conducting this as our moral responsibility. I don’t know whether it will have any impact or not.”

As part of the protest, the Congress leaders and supporters later marched towards the State Assembly in order to gherao it to press the government for their demands. A scuffle broke out between the police personnel and Congress workers after they tried to march ahead by breaking barricades.

The police detained Srinivas B V and some other party supporters following the scuffle.

“As unemployment and corruption is widespread, the youth Congress activists have come here for their legitimate demands. But the police and government are suppressing them. However, the government should not think that it will succeed. The protest will be intensified in the coming days,” said Congress leader Mohammad Muqeem.

Speaking on the protest, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Premananda Nayak said, “We are trying for self-employment of youths and provide them jobs.”

(Edited By Pradeep Singh)