The Congress on Wednesday described the police attack on party workers in Chhattisgarh as “Hitler-shahi” (Hitleresque), alleging that the Raman Singh government of the BJP had become intolerant of protests because of an impending defeat.

Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhupesh Baghel told The Telegraph over phone from Bilaspur: “What else is this if not Hitler-shahi? This had never happened in the history of India — workers sitting peacefully inside a Congress office were dragged out and beaten up. Have you seen a senior police officer hitting somebody on the head without provocation?”

Congress president Rahul Gandhi accused the Narendra Modi dispensation of authoritarianism.

“Authoritarianism has become a vocation in Narendra Modi regime. The people will remember the coward attack on the Congress workers in Bilaspur by the Raman Singh Government as political oppression,” Rahul tweeted.

Videos showing policemen raining blows and lathis on Congress workers went viral on Tuesday, triggering a political storm. Congress workers had returned after a demonstration outside the residence of Chhattisgarh industries minister Amar Agrawal, where they had allegedly thrown garbage. Congress leaders alleged that the minister sent the police with instructions of a violent reprisal.

“The government can’t tolerate any protest now. They are frustrated because people are angry all around. This is the state where the entire frontline leadership of the Congress was killed in Jeeram Ghati,” Baghel said, referring to the Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh in 2013 in which at least 27 Congress leaders were killed.

“Had the government taken prompt action in that case, the situation would not have deteriorated like this. We demand a judicial probe (into the police attack on Congress workers). We held demonstrations in the entire state on Wednesday. We will hold a PCC meting in Bilaspur on Thursday to decide the future course of action,” Baghel added.

The Congress leader had rushed to Bilaspur on Tuesday night and met those admitted to hospital with serious injuries. Baghel later went to the police station where over 50 Congress workers had been detained.

While the police accused the Congress workers of unruly behaviour, the state BJP alleged that the Opposition party had staged a drama.