Bhubaneswar, Aug 17: The Odisha Congress yesterday asserted that the dawn-to-dusk bandh observed by the party to protest against the inaction of State and Centre over the construction of dams and barrages by Chhattisgarh on the upstream of the Mahanadi river, was a complete success even as the BJD and BJP claimed that the shutdown was ‘impact-less.’
Addressing a press conference in the afternoon, PCC president Prasad Harichandan thanked the people of Odisha for making it a success. He also thanked all bar associations, traders’ associations, bus and truck associations and other organisations for extending support to the party’s move. The PCC chief alleged that the State government had made all efforts to smash the bandh. Harichandan added that the party has planned a long term agitation over the Mahanadi issue.
Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the citizens during the shutdown. On the other hand, bandh had no impact on the people of the State, BJD spokesperson Surya Narayan Patro said. The second reason for the lukewarm response to the bandh was that the Congress party was itself responsible for the constructions by the Chhattisgarh government, Patro claimed.
BJP slammed both the BJD and Congress for doing politics over the Mahanadi water. The BJP leader alleged that Odisha government does not want that the dispute should be settled amicably. Normal life was thrown out of gear in most parts of the State due to the 12-hour bandh observed by the grand old party protesting against “unilateral” construction on river Mahanadi by Chhattisgarh.
