BJD Stages Protest Over Rising Prices; Oppn Terms It Diversionary Tactic Amid Cry For Minister’s Scalp

Bhubaneswar: The BJD on Sunday staged a protest in front of Raj Bhawan here against the central government’s failure to check the rising prices of petrol, diesel, LPG cylinders, cooking oil and other essential items of daily needs.

Bhubaneswar (North) MLA Susanta Kumar Rout led the protest.

Speaking at the rally, party leader Sanjay Das Verma attacked the Centre for its complete mismanagement of the economy.

Party leader Debi Prasad Mishra warned that if the Centre did not take steps to bring down the skyrocketing prices, the BJD would be forced to organise protests in every village of Odisha and even take it to Delhi.

Minister Ashok Chandra Panda was among several senior BJD leaders who took part in the protest.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of ruling party workers had hit the streets with bullock carts, bicycles and trolleys, demanding an immediate cut in the fuel price.

Notably, the petrol price in Bhubaneswar crossed the Rs 110-mark on Sunday after 35 paise per litre hike for the fifth consecutive day.

Members of Biju Mahila Janata Dal also staged a sit-in and lit clay stoves on road to protest the LPG cylinder price hike.

At a presser on Saturday, party leaders blamed the Centre’s “faulty” economic management for the rise in the prices of petrol, diesel, cooking gas and other essential items. The BJD is set to organise protest meetings in all 147 Assembly constituencies of the state on Monday.

The Opposition BJP and Congress, however, alleged that the protest was a gimmick by the regional party to divert attention from the sensational Mamita Meher murder case.

“Cornered by the hue and cry over schoolteacher Mamita Meher murder, the ruling party has resorted to diversionary tactic with this protest,” said BJP state general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan.

Echoing similar views, senior Congress leader Suresh Routray said, “The state has turned into a battleground over Mamita Meher’s murder and alleged close links of Minister of State for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra with prime accuse Govind Sahu. Such protest by BJD at this point of time is just an attempt to cover up the wrongdoings by the state minister.”