Bhubaneswar, 26 March (H.S.): In protest against the suspension of 12 Congress MLAs from the Odisha Assembly, several party legislators staged an overnight demonstration on the road at Lower PMG, right in front of the Congress Bhawan in Bhubaneswar. Determined to make their voices heard, they even spent the night sleeping on the street, alleging they were manhandled by security personnel and police in the dead of night.

According to the protesting MLAs, they were forcibly removed by security forces from inside the Assembly while they were peacefully demonstrating near the Speaker’s podium. The legislators claimed they were assaulted and then dumped on the roadside. Undeterred, they continued their protest through the night under the open sky.

Senior Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati accused the police of not only attacking his personal security officer but also snatching his gold chain during the scuffle. Expressing deep disappointment, he stated, “We entered politics to serve the people and fight against injustice. But after being treated like this, I am seriously considering quitting politics.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda