Bhubaneswar: Amid strict instructions to reach Lok Seva Bhawan by 9.30 am on Wednesday, the state ministers could be seen riding pillion to reach the place of work before the gates as instructed closed at 10.15 am.
The direction was in view of the nationwide strike called by the central trade unions. While Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain did a volte face after extending support to the bandh on Tuesday, the instruction and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s scheduled visit to Mayurbhanj cleared the ruling party’s stand on the protest.
While some ministers preferred two-wheelers to dodge the agitators, who took to the streets at 6 am in the morning, others walked and were later given lift in police vehicles.
“I had some personal work and rode a motorcycle to office,” said Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick to reporters.
Information and Public Relations Minister Raghunandan Das was also seen riding pillion on a motorcycle to Lok Seva Bhawan, but he refused to divulge his mean of transport.
“There are several ways to commute to office. One can walk, pedal or ride a bike,” he said..
Commerce & Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera said he had no problem reaching the office. “I have often walked back home from office. Today I used a motorcycle,” he said.
Minister of State (MoS) for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra got a lift from a police vehicle while he was walking to office.
On the other hand, Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy, ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department secretary Ranjana Chopra and Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh came in their official vehicles escorted by police.
For security reasons, only Gate no 1 and the back gate were kept open.
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