Bhubaneshwar, July 16 -- Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday strongly criticised the state government and police over the alleged use of force against BJD workers protesting in connection with the Balasore self-immolation case.

Police used water cannons to disperse the protesting BJD workers. They also detained the BJD workers who were protesting over the Balasore student's death by self-immolation.

Condemning the police's action on BJD workers, Patnaik said that the right to peaceful democratic protest is under "grave threat" in Odisha.

In a social media post on X, Patnaik wrote, "The right to democratic protest is under grave threat in #Odisha. Today, the @bjd_odisha exercised its ...