Bhubaneswar: Opposing the hike in prices of petrol and diesel across the country, the Odisha unit of Congress has urged the residents of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack cities not to use their vehicles on June 4 from 6 am to 12 pm.

Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhawan here today, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Niranjan Patnaik said, "We request the people of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack not to use their vehicles on June 4 from 6 am to 12 pm as a mark of protest against unprecedented rise in prices of petrol, diesel and LPG by the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre."

A torch rally will be held in Bhubaneswar tomorrow evening to urge people to cooperate during the 6-hour protest, Patnaik said.

Targeting the Central and Odisha Governments over the Mahanadi issue, the OPCC chief said that the Prime Minister is supporting Chhattisgarh in the matter while the state government which was silent till 2015 is shedding crocodile tears now.

As many as 29 companies had signed memorandums of understanding with the Odisha government for the establishment of industries. But some of them have now turned to Chhattisgarh, said Patnaik.

He said barrages have been constructed by the Chhattisgarh government on the Mahanadi river to supply water to these projects.

He further said that the Congress will give an Odisha bandh call over the Mahanadi issue and a date in this regard will be declared soon.

On the other hand, BJP spokesperson Golak Mohapatra said the Congress should request the Odisha government to slash VAT on fuel instead of observing a Chakka Jam.