Bhubaneswar: A violent scuffle broke out between Chhatra Congress Workers and BJP Yuva Morcha Workers in front of Congress Bhawan at Master Canteen Square in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday after Rahul Gandhi’s posters were defaced.
Condemning Rahul Gandhi’s anti-Hindu remarks and demanding an apology, BJP Yuva Morcha workers reached Master Canteen square and allegedly hurled dung at the poster of Gandhi in front of the Congress Bhawan.
Soon, the city road turned into a battleground after the young activists of both parties exchanged blows and hurled stones at each other right in front of the police who failed to handle the situation.
As per police sources, seven persons were injured and were admitted to the capital hospital in the clash.
However, it is said that the situation escalated due to the lack of police personnel and the traffic on the road stretch came to a halt for almost an hour.
Both Congress & BJP Activists Pelted Stones, Hurled Dung
Master Canteen Square turned into a battlefield for some time on Tuesday evening after the BJP and Congress workers entered into a violent clash. After the efforts of personnel from Capital and Kharvel Nagar police stations failed, senior police officers rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
After the scuffle, Chhatra Congress president Yasir Nawaz and others then washed the defaced poster of Gandhi with milk and showered flowers.
On being asked about the incident, Nawaz said, “Everyone has the right to protest in a democracy. But in front of the office of a national party, BJP workers are defacing Rahul Gandhi’s poster in the presence of the police.”
“How come the police allowed them to protest in front of the Congress Bhawas?” In a peaceful state like Odisha, the BJP is practising the politics of violence,” he added.
BJP Yuva Morcha lodges complaint
The BJP Youth Morcha has accused the Congress workers of rioting and assaulting them during the protest and later in the evening lodged a complaint with the Capital police station alleging that seven of their activists had been seriously injured in the incident and demanding action.
No Woman Cop Deployed
While the videos of the violence at Master Canteen Square are going around on social media, no women policemen were seen at the protest site raising a finger over the police preparedness.