Congress apologises for Violence during Odisha Bandh on June 26

PCC President Prasad Harichandan held a press meet this evening and thanked the people of Odisha for making the Odisha Bandh a huge success. He also apologized for the violence by Congress cadres in Nayagarh and Dhenkanal and also alleged that the BJD sponsored violence at many places.

Prasad Harichandan tendered an unconditional apology to the people of Odisha for the inconvenience caused to them during today’s bandh, but said it was necessary to lodge the protest in a strong possible manner and make the ruling establishment wake up to the Nabakalebara fiasco, which hurt the sentiments of millions of Odias across the world.

While referring to the violent incidents at many places across Odisha, he owned up some while slammed the BJD for others. In Nayagarh, the Congress workers beat up an 108 Ambulance Driver while in Dhenkanal, the party cadres vandalised the Municipal office and DEO office.

Although the Odisha Bandh was total and effective elsewhere in the state, violent incidents were reported from many places. Many cars, buses, trucks, auto-rickshaws, bikes etc were damaged by the hooligans. Some people were beaten up too. However, at Shastri Nagar in Bhubaneswar, the Congress activists were chased down by angry residents, who beat them up and torched their bikes.