Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu inaugurated a new building complex of Malatipatpur railway station on Thursday evening.
Prabhu said since lakhs of pilgrims are expected to throng the pilgrim city to witness and participate in the Rath Yatra, the Railways had taken steps to facilitate their transport. He was accompanied by Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
As soon as the Ministers arrived at the Malatipatpur railway station, hundreds of slogan shouting BJD activists gathered there out of the blue, demanding resignation of Petroleum Minister Pradhan for his alleged links in the Vyapam scam.
The BJD workers holding placards and party flags were shouting slogans.
They said since the BJP-led NDA Government had not released funds for the Nabakalebar ritual and Rath Yatra, they had no right to attend the inauguration events.
Scores of BJP workers who had gathered there to welcome their leaders came face to face with the BJD activists.
The police personnel had a tough task in restoring normalcy while the BJD workers went on a rampage soon after the Ministers left.
The situation remained tense for hours. The sudden development surprised the police officers who had no prior information about the development.