Six Congress workers, including the party's Odisha youth wing president, were arrested today for allegedly tearing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's poster at a petrol pump here while protesting high fuel prices, police said.
The arrests were made when Odisha Pradesh Youth Congress (OPYC) President Loknath Maharathy was leading an agitation protesting frequent hike in fuel prices.
Maharathy and five others were arrested for tearing a poster of Narendra Modi at a fuel outlet near Delta square locality, police said.
The youth Congress activists also took out rallies on motorcycles shouting slogans against the price hike. The protesters also asked the petrol pump owners in the city to remove Modi's posters.
"Our agitation will continue till fuel prices are reduced. If prices of petrol and diesel are not brought down, posters of Narendra Modi will be removed across the state," Maharathy said.
Slamming the BJD government after the arrest of the youth leaders, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President, Prasad Harichandan, alleged that the police played a partisan and discriminatory role while dealing with Congress protesters.
The BJP, on the other hand, accused the ruling BJD in the state of using Congress for its benefit.
State BJP vice President Sameer Mohanty alleged that both BJD and Congress are working together against the Narendra Modi government.
Refuting the allegation, BJD spokesperson Amar Satpathy said the BJD had organised its protest against fuel price hike earlier and there is no question of joining hands with the Congress.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)