Bhubaneswar, January 10: The Youth Congress intensified its protest against the Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) issue by gheraoing the official residence of Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

The protest began with a bicycle rally, where activists marched towards the minister’s residence to express their grievances. However, the situation escalated when police blocked the path, leading to clashes between the demonstrators and the authorities. Several Youth Congress workers attempted to break through the security barricades, prompting police to intervene and restore order at the scene.

The protesters highlighted the widespread hardships faced by the public due to long queues and delays at PUCC centres across the state. They demanded that the government withdraw its decision within three days, threatening to escalate their protests by hurling eggs and staging a gherao at the Chief Minister’s residence if their demands were not met.

Congress leader Yasir Nawaz also criticized the government, accusing it of unfairly targeting poor vehicle owners while turning a blind eye to pollution in mining areas. “Are they attempting to bring back British-era rule in Odisha?” Nawaz remarked. “Under these measures, the common people will be unable to run their vehicles.” He warned that the protests would only grow stronger if the government failed to reverse its decision.