The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) has announced a day-long peaceful hunger strike on Friday, June 20, 2025, to protest Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Odisha.
The strike, scheduled from 9 AM to 6 PM, aims to highlight the state’s deteriorating law and order situation, rising crimes against women, and the ongoing cholera outbreak across 11 districts. PCC President Bhakta Charan Das criticised the PM’s visit, questioning the rationale behind celebrating the BJP-led government’s first anniversary amidst these crises.
PM Modi is set to attend events marking the completion of one year of the BJP’s “double engine” government in Odisha and at the center. However, Congress leaders argue that the state is grappling with serious issues, including a surge in gang rapes, daily reports of sexual assaults, and a failing healthcare system. Das pointed out that 15 rape cases are reported daily in Odisha, and the cholera outbreak has reached alarming levels, with cases reported from districts including the capital, Bhubaneswar.
In a press conference held at Congress Bhawan on Thursday, Das accused the state government of prioritising extravagant arrangements for the PM’s visit over addressing these pressing concerns. He highlighted that 133 platoons of police have been deployed for Modi’s security, surpassing the force allocated for major events like the Rath Yatra. “What message does this visit send when women are unsafe and cholera is spreading unchecked?” Das questioned.
The PCC chief urged the Prime Minister to address the cholera crisis and crimes against women in his speech during the visit. He also proposed that Modi meet the families of gang rape victims in Gopalpur and Kendujhar to understand the gravity of the situation and take steps to improve law and order. “If the PM takes these issues seriously and acts, Congress will welcome his visit,” Das stated.
Congress leaders further criticised the BJP’s governance, alleging that the state’s healthcare system has collapsed, and the government’s claims of success are hollow. They pointed to the cholera outbreak and rising crime rates as evidence of the “double engine” government’s failure. The hunger strike is seen as a strategic move by Congress to draw national attention to Odisha’s challenges and pressure the BJP ahead of the PM’s visit.
The press conference was attended by former Union Minister Srikant Jena, AICC Secretary Sarat Rout, PCC Treasurer Sirdharth Swarup Das, Congress leader Aravind Das, and PCC spokesperson Rajani Mohanty, among others. The Congress has called on its workers to join the hunger strike to protest the government’s inaction and demand accountability.
