TENSION prevailed in parts of Raipur on Wednesday as rival protests by BJP and Congress workers over demonstrations in New Delhi related to the alleged NEET paper leak descended into clashes. Police used high-pressure water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds after incidents of stonepelting were reported. Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao led a BJP march towards the Congress headquarters, Rajiv Bhavan, in Shankar Nagar, accompanied by party workers and leaders. Addressing supporters before the march, Sao criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi, calling it “contrary to democratic norms and constitutional propriety.” He said protecting constitutional offices and institutions was the duty of every public representative and vowed that the BJP would continue to defend democratic decorum. State BJP president Kiran Deo, addressing the rally organised by the party’s Raipur district unit at Rajiv Bhavan, accused the Congress of attempting to “vitiate the country’s atmosphere” through its protests and statements targeting the Prime Minister. As BJP workers tried to approach Rajiv Bhavan, police erected barricades to stop them.

 

When protesters attempted to breach the barriers, security forces deployed high-pressure water cannons to disperse the crowd. Despite the action, BJP supporters continued to raise slogans near the site. Congress workers gathered separately to protest what they called police action against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other party leaders during demonstrations in Delhi over the alleged NEET paper leak. Security was tightened around the BJP office at Ekta Complex and barricades were put up at key locations in Shankar Nagar to prevent the rival groups from coming face to face. Clashes were reported between workers of both parties, and several incidents of stone-pelting were recorded. Police responded by firing tear gas shells in addition to using water cannons to bring the situation under control. In Bilaspur, Congress cadres staged a demonstration at Nehru Chowk against what they described as a lathi-charge on students protesting in Delhi and the detention of senior party leaders. After assembling at Congress Bhavan in Tilak Nagar, demonstrators marched to Nehru Chowk, burnt an effigy of the Prime Minister and accused the Centre of suppressing peaceful dissent.