Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], March 27: Tensions flared in Bhubaneswar on Thursday as police resorted to lathi charge and used water cannons to disperse protesting Odisha Congress workers outside the Odisha Assembly. The demonstration was against the suspension of 14 Congress MLAs and the alleged rise in crimes against women under the BJP-led state government.
Protest Turns Chaotic
The protest, which started as a march to the Odisha Assembly, turned violent when police intervened. Congress workers resisted by pelting chairs at security forces, leading to further clashes.
The protests followed the March 26 suspension of 12 Congress MLAs by Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy for seven days, citing charges of “indiscipline, disrespecting the Chair, and violating rules” after they staged a demonstration in the House well.
Government Condemns ‘Hooliganism’
Odisha Minister Prithviraj Harichandan criticized the opposition’s actions, calling them unacceptable and unexpected.
“The behavior they showed yesterday and today is not acceptable. This kind of hooliganism is not expected from them,” Harichandan stated.
Congress Demands Probe into Crimes Against Women
The Odisha Congress was protesting to demand the formation of a committee to investigate crimes against women over the last eight months of BJP rule in the state.
State Congress President Bhakta Charan Das asserted that their march was peaceful, blaming the government for excessive police action.
“If the force deployed to stop our workers had been used to protect people, crimes against women would have reduced,” Das said.
He warned that if Congress workers continued to face obstruction, the party would escalate its demonstrations:
“If our people are stopped like this, next time, we won’t announce the date, time, and venue—lakhs of people will surround Bhubaneswar.”
The Congress leader further alleged that the police were acting as “brokers for the BJP government”, rather than ensuring public safety.
With political tensions rising, the situation in Odisha’s capital remains volatile as both sides continue to trade accusations.