Odisha Govt to Act Against Vandalism During NSUI Protest

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced plans to initiate legal action against those involved in damaging public property during a protest organized by the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) earlier this week in Bhubaneswar.

Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, speaking on Thursday, said that while citizens have the right to protest, vandalism of government assets will not be tolerated. “Every citizen has the right to protest, but no one has the right to vandalise public property,” the minister stated.

The incident took place on Tuesday evening when NSUI members allegedly damaged traffic barricades set up by Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) during a protest march from Jharpada Jail to Master Canteen via Ram Mandir Square. The barricades had been installed to help regulate traffic in the area.

Mahapatra confirmed that BSCL, in consultation with relevant authorities, will take appropriate legal steps in response to the incident. He strongly condemned the act, emphasizing that the government would deal firmly with any attempts to destroy public infrastructure.

The protest and subsequent vandalism have raised concerns about maintaining order during demonstrations, especially in high-traffic urban zones.