PCC president Niranjan Patnaik claimed that the Bharat Bandh on Monday was total across the State as it was backed by the common people in large numbers.
Patnaik told that the Bandh call was given against stiff rises of petrol, diesel and LPG price which have affected the common people by burning holes in their pockets.
In spite of repeated suggestion and demand to include petroleum products in GST and slash in VAT in the State by the Congress, the
BJP and BJD remained adamant and now, the lower middle class and middle class people, house wives and youths of the country are bearing the heavy burden of price hike, said Patnaik.
He told that the huge support to the bandh was proved by the fact that though the party limited the time till 3 pm, the vehicles remained off road throughout the day, long distance trains were controlled at various stations and 10 pairs of trains were cancelled by the East Coast Railway on Monday.
Similarly, all business establishments, educational institutes and in most places, banks were closed for the day. There was very poor attendance in Government offices, told Patnaik.
The PCC chief further claimed that there was not a single untoward incident during the bandh.
For the first time, the PCC facilitated movement of ambulances and the patients and disabled persons in emergency need by opening a control room and helpline number at the Congress head office in Bhubaneswar.
He added that the Congress workers and supporters protested in a unique way by giving rose to the commuters and requesting them to support the bandh.