Congress to observe Odisha bandh on Mahanadi issue

Bhubaneswar: The Congress party has decided to observe Odisha bandh on Mahanadi issue.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik on Saturday said the party will call for a state-wide bandh for the cause of Mahanadi.

He, however, said a decision on the date of Odisha bandh on Mahanadi issue will be taken after discussion with like-minded political parties and other organisations.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not give any assurance to the people of Odisha during his visit to Odisha recently. Moreover, Odisha government did nothing to protect the interest of Odisha. It was mum till 2015 while Chhattisgarh was continuing its project work on Mahanadi river,” said Patnaik.

The Congress also gave a call for a six-hour ‘Chaka bandh’ in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack on June 4 against the fuel price hike.

“We request the people of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack not to use their vehicles on June 4 from 6 am to 12 pm as a mark of protest against the rise in prices of petrol, diesel and LPG by the BJP government at the centre,” said Patnaik.