The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Wednesday announced to join the nationwide protest from Thursday against the Modi-led Central Government’s attempt to muzzle the Congress’ voice and its desperate attempt to harass party leader Rahul Gandhi through the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Addressing a Press conference here, OPCC president Sarat Pattanayak said party would stage a dharna before the Raj Bhavan on Thursday from 11 am to 1 pm. On Friday, Congress workers in all district headquarters would demonstrate and then sit in dharna before Central the Government offices protesting against the authoritarian rule of the BJP Government at the Centre.

Pattanayak and Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra condemned Wednesday’s police excesses at the Congress headquarters at 24 Akbar Road in New Delhi, brutal attack on former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, arrest and detention of senior Congress leaders and not allowing party workers inside the Congress office.

“Incidents like this had never been seen in the post-Independence India.  Deliberate harassment and ED grilling of former Rahul Gandhi and summons to AICC president Sonia Gandhi by misusing Central agencies  show desperation of the Modi Government. Congress workers would never sit silent in this hour,” said Pattanayak.

Narasingha Mishra said there is now a threat to the Constitution and democracy is in peril. The present Prime Minister was dreaming for a ‘Congress-Mukt Bharat’, failing which he has shown his authoritarian face and is using Central agencies to silence the Congress. But people have already felt that the time is up for the dictatorial regime.