Eggs thrown at Naveen Patnaik's carcade

Bhubaneswar, Feb 19 (IANS) Eggs were hurled and black flags waved by a group of protestors at Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's cavalcade here Thursday.

The incident occurred near Keshari Talkies in Bhubaneswar while the chief minister was on his way to attend the annual function of Utkal University students' union.

Breaching the security cordon, the activists pelted eggs at the chief minister's car when it stopped near the cinema hall.

Police resorted to cane charge to disperse the protestors, who blocked the road for nearly five minutes.

The activists were protesting against Patnaik for not learning Odia language during his 14-year tenure and failing to provide employment to the youth.

"The chief minister has failed to learn the mother language despite governing the state for the last 14 years. He has also failed to provide employment to the youth in the state. Such incidents will occur in future too," said Odisha Youth Congress president Rajat Choudhary.

Leaders of the ruling Biju Janata Dal condemned the incident.

"It is unfortunate that some Congress activists threw eggs at the chief minister who is reigning over the hearts of lakhs of students," said BJD parliamentarian Prasanna Patsani.

However, former Congress parliamentarian Pradeep Majhi supported the move of his party workers.

"Eggs on face of Naveen sarkar, when u don't give job 4 deir hands & no forum 2 discuss their problems loot Rs100 wid fake job promise u xpct it," Majhi tweeted.

Earlier in December 2013, activists of the Navnirman Krushak Sangathan, an organisation fighting for the cause of farmers, had blocked Patnaik's cavalcade near the secretariat protesting the apathy of the government towards the farming community.