Continuing their protest against the gross irregularities in the preparation of digitised ration card lists under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), Congress activists on Wednesday showed black flags to School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra in Sambalpur.
Members of the Sambalpur district women’s wing of the Congress showed black flags to Mishra when he was on his way to the Nrusingha Guru High School to attend its platinum jubilee ceremony.
However, no eggs were hurled at the Minister this time. The police also detained five women activists for showing black flags to the Minister.
State Mahila Congress president Sasmita Behera said it was a token protest and such protests would continue until the Government addresses the issues of the poor by including them under the NFSA.
On the other hand, the Minister said he had not seen black flags shown to him. “There was a protest by some women, but I did not see any black flags,” Mishra said.
“If they had any issues, they could have given a memorandum and I would have received that,” Mishra added.
Terming such protest as against people’s mandate, the Minister said protesting against him is equal to protesting against people’s wish.
Earlier, Ministers Sanjay Dasburma and Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak were hurled eggs and shown black flags by Congress activists during their visit to Puri, Ganjam and Deogarh districts recently.