Political scenario here remained hot for a whole day on Monday as three major political parties - the Congress, BJP and the BJD - staged separate demonstrations on various issues.
While the Mahila Congress gheraoed the Sub-Collector’s office in protest against the incident of rape and murder of widow in Dhenkanal district’s Kankadahada block, the BJP youth wing staged a dharna at the BMC office demanding return of funds collected in name of PC to poor people through Government schemes. Similarly, BJD youth and student wing activists staged a protest meeting at the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) office protesting against stopping of the Mahanadi water by Chhattisgarh Government and the Union Government’s negligence in conferring Special Category State (SCS) status to Odisha.
Mahaila Congress activists demanded that stringent action be taken against the rape accused and compensation of Rs 20 lakh be paid to the victim’s family. Party’s district president Bhagaban Gantayat, secretary Durga Prasad Panda, district Mahila Congress members B Puspabati, T Premanjali, Minati Bisoyi, Gita Madhoi, Sanjukta Patro and Babula Behra were present.
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists, besides seeking return of PC money, also demanded that all funds embezzled by the BJD in 18 years be returned.
BJYM general secretary Bikesh Panigrahi, State general secretaries N Rajendra Kumar, Fakira Behera, Niranjan Patro, Raghunath Reddy, Yuva Morch Pratab Sarangi, Rinku Samal, D Sunil Rao, Subhasini Patnaik and Dharani Behera were present.
likewise, hundreds of activists of the Biju Youth Janata Dal (BYJD) and the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) moved in a rally trough the city before staging a demonstration at the RDC office.
They shouted slogans against the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre and Chhattisgarh Government raising the SCS status and Mahanadi dispute issues.
BYJD Ganjam district president N Dhananjay Rao, MlAs RC Chyaupatnaik, Debraj Mohanty, Dr Pradeep Panigrahi, Priyanshu Pradhan, Purna Chandra Sethi, senior leader Ram Chandra Panda and BDA Chairman Subash Moharana attended.