Soumya supporters put up new tent, continue dharna

OST Political Bureau

Bhubaneswar, Oct 6:

Unfazed by the attack by some youths believed to be supporters of PCC President Jaydev Jena last evening, supporters of expelled Congress leader Soumya Ranjan Patnaik erected a new tent just outside the Congress Bhavan exactly at the place where the old one was demolished yesterday and resumed their dharna protesting the expulsion.

“We have erected a fresh tent and will continue to support Soumya Ranjan Patnaik. The decision of AICC to expel him is not justified and should be withdrawn immediately,” said supporters of Patnaik, who include members of Congress Seva Dal, youth wing and student wing.

Meanwhile, many senior Congress leaders thronged the party office even though it was a Sunday today.

Congress leaders appealed to both sides to desist from violence. “I request both the groups not to indulge in violence for the sake of the reputation of Congress. If they persist, such acts will have to be stopped forcibly,” said Suresh Routray, senior Congress leader.

Police have been deployed at the Congress Bhavan to avoid any untoward incident.

Some party workers believed to be supporters of PCC president Jaydev Jena and supporters of Patnaik had indulged in clash yesterday. While Patnaik’s supporters went on a rampage breaking glass panes and chairs inside the Congress Bhavan, Jena supporters retaliated in the evening by demolishing a tent set up by the former and beating up those inside.

The rival camps have lodged FIRs against each other at the Capital police station and the Mahila police station.

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