Farmers protests: 80 Odisha artistes, coming from R-Day parade, caught in bus amid mayhem

By Express News Service
BHUBANESWAR /BHAWANIPATNA: For Bajasal folks dance guru Dhyanananda Panda and his group, this journey to New Delhi was particular as they had been the one troupe from Eastern India to carry out on the Republic Day parade on the Rajpath.

But little did they know, their expertise within the nationwide capital would flip nightmarish even after an impactful efficiency that drew enormous appreciation from all quarters. The 80-member troupe in two buses was caught on the Mansingh Road for over 5 hours because the protesting farmers went on a rampage, attacking policemen and damaging property earlier than laying siege to the Red Fort.

The artistes had been on the brink of go away Rajpath for his or her place of keep behind ITO Square after their efficiency at 12.30 pm once they received data that their route had changed into a battlefield. They then took an alternate route by way of Mansingh Road, which was additionally discovered to be blocked. The escort police get together suggested them to remain contained in the bus until normalcy was restored.

The troupe members, together with 28 ladies, could not even have lunch regardless of being too hungry after the efficiency. “We were stranded near Bikaner House. All the members were scared when we came to know about the violence. Thanks to the officials of Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), our dancers could get some dry food like Samosa. We left the place with police escort at about 6 pm,” stated Panda.

The Prativa Anusthan troupe from Kalahandi had taken half within the parade by way of EZCC, Kolkata below Union Ministry of Culture. Union PNG and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Tourism and Culture Minister Pralhad Singh Patel on Wednesday met the troupe members and regretted the inconvenience triggered to them. 

“The Ministry officials were in regular touch with the group and ensured their safe return from the venue,” Patel stated. The crew is slated to return to Odisha by Hazrat Nizamuddin-Visakhapatnam particular prepare on Thursday.