In a whirlwind visit here on Thursday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid foundation-stones of two new projects and inaugurated four other projects, including a museum, in less than two hours amid a massive protest by city Congress leaders and workers.
At least 20 Congress workers were taken into preventive custody by the police when the protestors raised slogans and showed black flags to Patnaik, shouting “Go back” near the Qadam Rasool in the evening.
The Congress has been protesting the Chief Minister’s visit to the city since long alleging that the BJD regime has been constantly neglecting the city ever since 2000.
Congress leaders said the Chief Minister is only interested in granting inconsequential projects for Cuttack. They asked if the Chief Minister is so sincere about Cuttack then why he is not picking up the city to have the prestigious IIM here.
Under unprecedented security cover, Patnaik laid foundation-stones for a community centre and a Zilla Sanskriti Bhawan.
He also inaugurated two power sub-stations and opened an aquarium at the State Maritime Museum at Jobra, which was inaugurated last year.
Interestingly, the ground on which he laid the foundation-stone for the Sanskriti Bhawan had been earlier earmarked for an amusement park, the foundation-stone of which was laid by Patnaik a few years ago.
Before returning to Bhubaneswar, Patnaik inaugurated an Odisha Print Museum in the Government Press premises at Madhupatna. The Congress workers were joined by other protestors who raised slogans against the CM.