BJD, BJP and Cong stage protests over separate issues across state

Bhubaneswar: Members of BJD, BJP and Congress took to the streets on Monday and staged separate protests across the state over different issues.
The activists of the youth and student wings of the ruling BJD staged separate sit-ins outside the additional district magistrate (ADM) offices at all district headquarters across the state over Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh and special category status for the state.
“We condemn Union Minister of State for External Affairs Gen (retd) V K Singh’s remark that Odisha does not need a special category status. He should apologize for his comment,” said BJD students’ wing Byomkesh Ray, who led a rally from Circuit House to ADM office in Bhubaneswar. He came down heavily on Chhattisgarh government for allegedly blocking the flow of water from Mahanadi to Odisha and trying to dry out the river.
On the other hand, the BJP Yuva Morcha activists held protest meetings at Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur and Sambalpur districts against collection of percentage commission (PC) at various levels in state in different welfare programmes.
Senior BJP leader Samir Mohanty alleged that the ruling BJD had looted the state for the last 17 years by collecting commission through various welfare schemes. He demanded that the ruling party return the amount collected to the state exchequer.
Similarly, members of Mahila Congress and the party’s ST & SC Cell also staged demonstrations before the collectors’ offices in all districts of the state demanding immediate action against those involved in the rape and murder of a woman at Kankadahada in Dhenkanal district.