In a politically charged build-up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Odisha, several Congress leaders, including OPCC general secretary Syed Yashir Nawaz, were detained by police in Bhubaneswar on Friday.
The detentions came hours before Modi was set to lead a Triranga Yatra and commemorate the first anniversary of the BJP-led state government.
Sources confirmed that at least five youth leaders, including Nawaz, were placed under preventive detention and held at the Capital police station. The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) condemned the move, calling it an “undemocratic attempt to stifle dissent.”
“Why is the BJP so afraid of Congress voices? These detentions reflect their insecurity,” Nawaz said, asserting that Congress will continue its fight for the people of Odisha despite arrests.
Prime Minister Modi is expected to participate in a grand roadshow, address a public meeting at Janata Maidan, and launch development initiatives worth over Rs 19,000 crore. The projects span critical sectors including railways, drinking water, healthcare, rural infrastructure, and highways. BJP state president Manmohan Samal stated that nearly two lakh people are anticipated to attend.
As the celebrations unfold, opposition outrage over the detentions adds a layer of controversy, signalling intensified political friction in the state’s run-up to forthcoming elections.
