BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Thursday claimed that the statewide bandh call given by INDIA bloc on Thursday was successful due to massive support from the public.
On the day, OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das and other senior Congress leaders participated in rallies at different places across the state in support of the bandh. Das said the INDIA alliance parties had informed people about the bandh much in advance and sought their cooperation.
He, however, took a dig at the BJD for refusing to participate in the bandh. “The BJD had initially indicated to participate but changed its position at the last moment. Had the BJD participated directly, the bandh could have been more impactful,” the OPCC chief stated.
Das further said that in future when the BJD will agitate on any issue, the Congress will put forth its stand, but not take a U-turn like the former.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal told mediapersons that the bandh call given by Congress and Left parties was completely rejected by the people of Odisha.
“Public life remained completely normal across Odisha. This proves that people did not support the issues for which they took to the streets. But the way in which goons of Congress and Left parties created a reign of terror and frightened common people at some places, the people of Odisha will never forgive them,” he said.
Alleging that Congress workers stopped and misbehaved with common people, including those going to hospitals or drop their children in school, the BJP leader claimed that even pregnant women were not spared from such uncivilised behaviour. The people of Odisha will give a befitting reply to this, he said. “The Congress which is agitating on the streets with the slogan of saving the Constitution should clarify under which article of the Constitution such violent behaviour is accepted,” he said.