BJD demands probe into Bhubaneswar taxi drivers' clash with police
Synopsis
Three days into a peaceful protest over fares and app commissions, Bhubaneswar's online taxi drivers clashed with police at Master Canteen Square — and the BJD is now turning the violence into a political accountability question, demanding the Chief Minister answer for what it calls a clear intelligence failure.
Key Takeaways
BJD condemned the violent clash between online taxi drivers and Commissionerate Police at Master Canteen Square, Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, 19 August .
Drivers of Ola , Uber , and Rapido had been agitating since 17 August over fare revisions, lower app commissions, and social security.
Around 400–500 autos were parked on major roads, blocking traffic including routes to the railway station and airport.
BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty alleged a three-day government silence and an Intelligence Department failure to anticipate the blockade.
The party demanded a high-level inquiry and called on the Chief Minister — who holds the Home Department portfolio — to answer for the breakdown.
The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday, 20 August condemned the violent confrontation between online taxi drivers and Commissionerate Police personnel during a protest in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, and called for a high-level inquiry into the incident. The clash erupted at Master Canteen Square, where drivers of Ola, Uber, and Rapido had gathered as part of a multi-day agitation over fare revisions, reduced app commissions, and social security benefits.
What Happened at Master Canteen Square
The agitation, which began on 17 August, turned violent on its third day when drivers clashed with police. Stone-pelting was reported at Master Canteen Square, along with vandalism of Ama buses and police vehicles, and physical attacks on police personnel. Around 400 to 500 autos were reportedly parked on major roads simultaneously, blocking traffic and disrupting access to key city routes including those leading to the railway station and airport.
What the BJD Said
BJD spokesperson and Media Coordinator Lenin Mohanty, addressing a press conference at Sankha Bhawan, said there was no place for violence in a democratic movement. He simultaneously condemned the stone-pelting and called for legal action against those who 'took the law into their own hands,' while also holding the state government accountable for the breakdown.
'During yesterday's agitation, the drivers clashed with the police. The Biju Janata Dal strongly condemns the pelting of stones at Master Canteen Square, vandalism of Ama buses and police vehicles, and attacks on police personnel. Legal action must be taken against those who took the law into their own hands,' Mohanty said.
Allegations Against the State Government
Mohanty alleged that the Odisha state government remained silent for three days instead of engaging with the protesting drivers to address their grievances. He questioned how the police administration had no prior intelligence about the planned road blockade, especially since the online auto drivers' association had earlier held discussions with the Transport Minister and had sought formal permission from the Commissionerate Police for a one-day agitation. The first day of the protest, he noted, had passed peacefully.
The BJD leader further alleged that the Intelligence Department failed to anticipate the blockade of critical roads. Since the Home Department falls under the Chief Minister's purview, Mohanty demanded that the Chief Minister answer for what the party described as an intelligence failure.
Key Demands of the BJD
The party demanded a high-level inquiry into the role of both the Intelligence Department and the police administration in the violent incident. It also called on the government to engage with the drivers' legitimate demands — fare revision, reduction of app commissions, and social security provisions — which had remained unaddressed since the agitation began. This comes amid a broader national conversation around gig worker rights and the regulatory treatment of app-based mobility platforms.
Point of View
A posture designed to appeal both to law-and-order voters and to the large gig-worker constituency in urban Odisha. The more pointed question is one of process: if the drivers had formally sought and received permission for their agitation, the intelligence failure allegation carries real weight. The ruling dispensation will need to explain not just the breakdown at Master Canteen Square, but why three days of a declared protest produced no government engagement. Gig worker grievances — fare structures, app commissions, social security — are a national policy gap; Odisha's handling of this episode will be watched as a template.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the Bhubaneswar taxi drivers' clash with police?
Drivers of Ola, Uber, and Rapido had been protesting since 17 August over demands including fare revisions, reduced app commissions, and social security. On the third day of the agitation, the protest turned violent at Master Canteen Square, with stone-pelting, vandalism of Ama buses and police vehicles, and attacks on police personnel reported.
What has the BJD demanded after the Bhubaneswar clash?
The Biju Janata Dal has demanded a high-level inquiry into the roles of the Intelligence Department and the police administration in the violent incident. It has also called on the Chief Minister — who heads the Home Department — to personally answer for the alleged intelligence failure.
Why does the BJD blame the Odisha government for the violence?
The BJD alleges the state government remained silent for three days instead of engaging with the drivers' grievances, and that the Intelligence Department failed to anticipate the road blockade despite the agitation being publicly declared and formally permitted. The party argues that government inaction created the conditions for the violence.
Who is Lenin Mohanty and what did he say?
Lenin Mohanty is a BJD spokesperson and Media Coordinator who addressed a press conference at Sankha Bhawan on 20 August. He condemned the stone-pelting and vandalism while simultaneously calling out the state government's silence and demanding accountability from the Chief Minister.
What were the taxi drivers protesting about?
Drivers of app-based platforms — Ola, Uber, and Rapido — were demanding revision of fares, reduction in app commissions charged by aggregators, and access to social security benefits. The agitation began on 17 August and remained peaceful on its first day before turning violent on 19 August.
