The Congress, out of power in Odisha since 2000, staged a show of strength by trying to gherao the state secretariat in Bhubaneswar in protest against the Naveen Patnaik government’s alleged failure on all fronts.

The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) maintained that the Congress’ attempt to create a narrative against the Naveen government just before the election would not be
successful.

Thousands of Congress workers led by its Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Sarat Kumar Pattanayak tried to break the security cordon to gherao the state secretariat, known as Lok Seva Bhavan. Congress workers clashed with the police when men in khaki tried to stop them from marching towards the Lok Seva Bhavan. They had a scuffle with the police. Odisha-in-charge Ajoy Kumar was also present.

Congress workers shouted slogans against the Naveen government for its failure to create employment opportunities and check atrocities on women and the weaker sections.

OPCC president Pattanayak said: “The Naveen Patnaik government has assured 33 per cent irrigation to all the cultivated lands. But the ground realities are different. There has been no development. The health system has already collapsed.

“People are migrating to other states in search of employment. People will throw out the BJD which is in cahoots with the BJP.”

Accusing the BJD regime in the state and the BJP-led government at the Centre of making the plight of the people worse, Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said: “The farmers are the worst victim. They resort to distress sales. They are unable to sell their produce. Besides, the crime against women has also gone up. Now they are talking about building a new Odisha after remaining in power for 23 years.”

Bahinpati said: “There is no job for the youths. Fifteen lakh people have migrated to other states in search of employment. Here the Naveen Patnaik government and BJP are hand in glove. Their stance has already been exposed.”