Youth Congress protests against alleged job scam; march to Odisha CM’s residence foiled

The youth wing of the Odisha Congress on Thursday staged a massive protest at Lower PMG Square in Bhubaneswar, accusing the Odisha BJP government of ‘stealing jobs’ and ‘betraying the trust of the youth.’

The protest by the Odisha Pradesh Youth Congress saw hundreds of youth workers marching with placards, attempting to gherao the official residence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

Protest Over Job Scam Allegations

Led by the Youth Congress state unit, the protest focused on alleged irregularities in the Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment examination, which the party claimed had turned into a large-scale scam.

National Youth Congress President Uday Bhan Chib attended the gathering, addressing protesters and calling the alleged scam ‘a betrayal of Odisha’s unemployed youth’.

Carrying printed banners depicting the Constitution of India, the protesters alleged that the BJP government ‘has played with the future of the youth by allowing corruption in recruitment’. Many also shouted slogans against, alleging that the ‘job-selling racket’ was operated from within the BJP party office in Bhubaneswar.

“This double-engine government of the BJP has done something no other government dared to do. They sold jobs and deprived hundreds of aspirants of their future. The Chief Minister must take responsibility and step down,” said a protesting Youth Congress worker during the agitation.

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Attempted March To CM’s Residence

As the protest intensified, several demonstrators breached police barricades and attempted to march toward the Chief Minister Majhi’s official residence. Police personnel deployed at the site intervened and detained several protesters to prevent further escalation.

The Youth Congress leadership said the action was symbolic and aimed at gheraoing the government over unemployment and alleged electoral malpractice.

The demonstration also drew strength from recent remarks by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who accused the Odisha BJP government of “stealing votes to come to power” and “stealing jobs to sustain it.”

Government Action On Recruitment Scam

Meanwhile, the Odisha government reiterated that it has already taken swift action in the recruitment irregularities case. Officials confirmed that those allegedly involved in the SI recruitment scam, both at the state and district levels, have been arrested, and the investigation is being carried out.

“Unlike the previous governments, this government is for the people. Had we been corrupt, we would have never exposed the SI recruitment exam. After our investigation, several BJD links have surfaced,” Odisha BJP chief Manmohan Samal had earlier said.