Youth Congress gheraos Odisha Transport Minister’s residence over PUCC issue

The Youth Congress on Saturday staged a protest over the PUCC (Pollution Under Control Certificate) issue by gheraoing the official residence of Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena in Bhubaneswar.

As part of the agitation, Youth Congress activists reportedly took out a bicycle rally and marched towards the minister’s residence to register their protest.

Tensions escalated during the demonstration as police personnel attempted to stop the protesters from advancing further. This led to scuffles between the Youth Congress workers and the police at the protest site.

Several activists were seen trying to breach the security barricades, prompting the police to intervene and bring the situation under control.

According to the Youth Congress protestors, common people across the State are facing severe difficulties due to the heavy rush at Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) centres. They have demanded that the decision be withdrawn within three days. The protestors also warned that if the decision is not rolled back, they will intensify their agitation by hurling eggs and staging a gherao at the Chief Minister’s residence.

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"Pollution is being illegally generated in mining areas, and regulations should be strictly enforced there. Instead, the government is imposing fines on poor people, which is unjust. Are they trying to bring back British-era rule in Odisha? Under such measures, common people will not be able to run their vehicles. If the decision is not rolled back within three days, eggs will be hurled at the Chief Minister and other ministers wherever they go," said Congress leader Yasir Nawaz.

"It is highly essential to bring pollution under control at various places in Odisha so that it will not get aggravated in coming days. Whenever a new policy comes, the government becomes flexible for its implementation due to various problems. Limit for obtaining PUCC has been increased till April. We don't think that unnecessary politicisation of the issue is required under the circumstance. Oxygen has now become the basis need of the people these days," said BJP Yuva Morcha President Abhilash Panda.