Bhubaneswar: Students organisations affiliated to various political parties on Wednesday threatened to go for a Mayurbhanj strike if the former law minister, Arun Sahoo, did not apologise for forcing a student leader to do sit-ups.

The organisations also burnt Sahoo's effigy, demanding clipping of his wings.

At present, the former minister and MLA from Nayagarh, Sahoo is the BJD's party observer for the tribal-dominated Mayurbhnaj district.

On Tuesday, North Orissa University's student union president Tushar Kumar Nayak alleged that Sahoo had forced him to do sit-ups when he had gone to meet the MLA over various demands of the university, including regularisation of many subjects and introduction of MPhil in the self-financing courses, at Baripada Circuit House.

Later, he used the social media to narrate his ordeal how Sahoo had misbehaved with the him and threw his mobile phone towards him. "This is an insult to the entire student community of Mayurbhanj. It's now a question of self-pride and self-esteem. He should apologise for his misdeeds. If he does not do it, we will hurl him eggs when he visits Mayurbhanj," said BJP youth wing president Kumar Mangalam.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad also held protests in various parts of the state, including agitation in front of the Utkal University, on the issue.

Congress leader Rakesh Singh said: "If Naveen does not remove him from his post within seven days, we will go for a strike in Mayurbhnaj district."

However, BJD students wing has come in defence of Sahoo. "Our senior leaders never badly treat us. That's the reason why students across the state are joining hands with the BJD," said its president, Rana Pratap.

Even the senior leaders of the party were taken aback by the behaviour of Sahoo. "We had never expected that Sahoo would stoop to such a level and ask a student leader to do a sit-ups. BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik has also been apprised of the situation," said a senior BJD leader.

Paika revolt

The Indian Oil Foundation on Wednesday decided to give Rs 90 crore for the memorial projects to commemorate 200-years of Paika revolt. A decision to this effect was taken at Indian Oil Foundation's trust board meeting held under the chairmanship of Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The money will be spent at Barunei near Khurda and at Rodanga in Brahmagiri, the birth place of Buxi Jagabandnu.

The Centre has urged the state government to provide 25 acres for the memorial project.