Seven Congress workers held for blocking Patnaik's cavalcade

Bhubaneswar, Feb 20 (IANS) At least seven workers of the opposition Congress party were arrested in Bhubaneswar for blocking Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's cavalcade here, police said Friday.

"We have arrested seven people. They all are Congress workers. We are likely to arrest a few more in the incident soon," Deputy Commissioner of Police Satyabrata Bhoi told IANS.

Patnaik was on his way to Utkal University in the city to attend the annual function of its students' union Thursday when dozens of activists of Congress' youth and student wings waylaid his convoy near Keshari Talkies.

Shouting anti-government slogans, some of the protestors also waved black flags, and hurled eggs on the chief minister's vehicle. Patnaik was, however, escorted by the police safely from the spot without any damage to his vehicle.

Although police had received prior intelligence report of an protest the exact location was not known, Bhoi said.

State president of Congress's youth wing Rajat Choudhary said the chief minister failed to learn the mother tongue Odia despite governing the state for the last 14 years.

"He (Patnaik) also failed to provide employment to the youth. Such incidents will occur in future too," Choudhary told reporters.