Bhubaneswar, Sept 19: Odisha Congress staged a demonstration in the state capital on Thursday protesting Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu’s derogatory remark against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
On the leadership of Congress steering committee Cordinator Muhammad Moquim, thousands of congress leaders and activists marched towards the BJP office from Master Canteen Square. But local police barricaded them at Shriya Square just before the BJP office wherein a scuffle between police and congress leaders took place. Police forcefully detained hundreds of party leaders there.
Congress leader Muhammad Moquim alleged that BJP leaders and their alliance party leader are always trying to tarnish the image of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
"Union Minister Rabnit Singh Bitu who is a part of Modi's cabinet very often tries to malign the image of Rahul Gandhi. Similarly, Sanjay Gaiwkwad, Sivasena ( Sindhe group) leader also recently made filthy comments on Rahul Gandhi. Many BJP leaders have even threatened publicly to kill Rahul Gandhi. But Prime Minister Modi has been silent over the issue,".
He further added that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had written a letter to Prime Minister Modi in this regard. However, no replay has been received from the PMO on it, said Moquim.
In this connection, Odisha Congress has lodged a written complaint against the BJP leaders at Kharavel Nagar police station.
Former PCC Presidents Niranjan Patnaik, Jayadev Jena, Prasad Harichandan, Sarat Pattanayak, and many senior leaders of the party led the demonstration.
