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Regular-article-logo Thursday, 24 July 2025

Clash near Naveen home

Youth Congress activists on Wednesday scuffled with police near Rajmahal Square while trying to march towards Naveen Nivas, the official residence of chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

Our Correspondent Published 05.07.18, 12:00 AM
CLASH: Congress workers scuffle with police in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar: Youth Congress activists on Wednesday scuffled with police near Rajmahal Square while trying to march towards Naveen Nivas, the official residence of chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

The Congress's youth wing staged a demonstration and alleging that the government had failed to resolve farmers' issues and provide employment to youths.

The rally towards Naveen Nivas followed a public meeting at Congress Bhavan. The protesters also took out a motorcycle rally - Yuva Adhikaar Samavesh.

Congress leader Sangram Jena alleged that both the Centre and the state had failed to provide employment to youths of the state.

"The state government is yet to admit the deaths of farmers under debt. We demand the government to provide unemployment allowance."

The police later took hundreds of Congress workers, including youth wing president Lokanath Maharathy, under preventive custody. "We have been demanding jobs for the state's youths for the past few years. However, the government has failed to generate employment as a result of which youths are forced to run from pillar to post in search of jobs. We will intensify our agitation," said Maharathy.

The rally was attended by state Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik, Congress leader Chiranjib Biswal, Indian Youth Congress president Keshav Jadhav and vice-president B.V. Srinivas.

The protesters also alleged that the police used force to stop them.

"It is our democratic right to demonstrate. The chief minister is keeping mum over the issue though a number of youths like me are venturing out to work in factories. Our intention was only to awaken the chief minister, but the police used force on a peaceful protest," said Jyoti Acharya, a Youth Congress member.

Deputy commissioner of police Anup Sahoo said all the agitators were later released.

"The area near Naveen Nivas is a high-security zone and no one is allowed to stage protests there. The protestors ignored our advice and tried to march towards the residence of the chief minister for which we had to stop them."

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