Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today staged a strong protest at Lower PMG against the alleged curtailment of powers of panchayat representatives under the three-tier Panchayati Raj system. The protest turned battlefield as BJD workers clashed with police while attempting to march towards the state Assembly.
According to reports, as the BJD workers approached towards the State Legislative Assembly, police barricaded the area and tried to prevent them from proceeding further. However, the BJD workers were determined to make their voices heard and broke through two barricades. This led to a scuffle between the BJD workers and police, with the situation turning volatile. To control the crowd and maintain order, police used water cannons and lifted and carried away protesters.
Meanwhile, the area was heavily barricaded, and 28 platoons of forces were deployed to prevent any escalation.
Notably, the BJD’s protest was sparked by the government’s decision to curtail the powers of panchayat representatives, which the party strongly opposes.
