The ongoing protest by app-based cab and bike drivers in Bhubaneswar escalated into violence on Wednesday, with police arresting around 80 protesters and reporting injuries to 13 personnel.

The drivers and bike riders have been on a cease-work protest since August 17 over a seven-point charter of demands that includes a fare hike, lower application fees, social security and other benefits.

Hundreds of protesters marched from Raj Mahal Square towards Mahatma Gandhi Marg on Wednesday and blocked the road, affecting traffic around Master Canteen Square and areas close to the railway station.

Protesters allegedly pelt stones at police

According to police, personnel deployed at the spot attempted to persuade the protesters to clear the road. The situation allegedly turned violent when some protesters threw stones at the police force.

Police also alleged that three police vans and several government-run Ama buses were vandalised during the incident.

Narasingha Bhol, Additional Commissioner of Police (Cuttack-Bhubaneswar), said 13 police personnel, including the inspector in charge of the Capital Police Station, were injured.

“We are examining the CCTV footage. Strict legal action will be taken against all those who indulged in the violence,” Bhol said.

Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena said around 80 protesters were arrested and vehicles parked at the protest site were seized.

The DCP said police had permitted the drivers to demonstrate at Mahatma Gandhi Marg on August 17, but the protesters continued their agitation and blocked a major road, causing inconvenience to commuters.

The situation has since returned to normal, with vehicular movement resuming. Police have also deployed additional personnel at Lower PMG.

Transport authority examines seized vehicles

The transport authority has started examining the documents of the vehicles seized during the protest.

Additional Transport Commissioner Sangram Patnaik said registration certificates of vehicles without valid documents would be cancelled.

“We are examining the details of the seized vehicles. We will cancel the registration certificate of vehicles that don’t have valid documents,” Patnaik said.

The prolonged strike has also affected commuters, with a large number of cabs, bikes and auto-rickshaws remaining off the roads.

Odisha government working on fare chart

Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena said the government is preparing a rate chart for online cab and bike ride operators.

Housing and Urban Development Minister K C Mahapatra said the government also plans to further improve the Odisha Yatri app, with the aim of ensuring that drivers receive greater benefits from rides.

The Congress has decided to continue with its longstanding position of singing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at party events, amid an ongoing political row over the National Song.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Thursday reaffirmed its 1937 resolution on Vande Mataram. The decision has drawn strong criticism from the BJP, which accused the opposition party of placing its political position above the country.

BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi described the Congress as a “new Muslim League” and questioned the party’s “patriotism and loyalty” to India.

BJP attacks Congress over Vande Mataram stand

Reacting to the CWC decision, Trivedi said the Congress had undermined its claim of being the principal party associated with India’s freedom struggle.

He alleged that the decision showed the Congress considered the party to be above the Constitution, Parliament and the country.

Trivedi also compared the Congress’s position with the Muslim League’s opposition to singing the complete version of Vande Mataram in 1931.

Congress defends 1937 resolution

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal defended the party’s decision and accused the BJP of politicising the National Song and National Anthem.

Venugopal said Vande Mataram was an emotional issue for the Congress and maintained that the party’s position was based on the decision taken by its top leadership in 1937.

He referred to the presence of leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore, Subhas Chandra Bose and Sardar Patel at the time.

Venugopal also accused the BJP of using the controversy as a distraction from issues such as alleged paper leaks and “chanda chori”.

Vande Mataram row intensifies

The latest dispute comes amid a broader political controversy over the singing of Vande Mataram. The government had earlier pushed for the full version to be sung at public gatherings and official events and Parliament passed a Bill making disruption or prevention of the National Song’s singing a criminal offence, according to the report.

The controversy intensified after former Congress president Sonia Gandhi was seen making gestures while the full National Song was being sung at the Congress headquarters on Independence Day. The BJP alleged that she was objecting to the full version, while the Congress rejected the claim.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also faced criticism after singing a shorter version of Vande Mataram at an event in Goa on Monday. The BJP termed it disrespectful to the National Song.

Kharge defended his position, saying he had sung the version previously sung by leaders including Gandhi, Nehru, Sardar Patel and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He said that if singing that version was a crime, cases should also be filed against those leaders.

US President Donald Trump has warned countries, financial institutions and businesses against providing Iran with what he called an “economic lifeline”, saying those that continue supporting Tehran could face “TREMENDOUS” economic consequences.

Trump’s warning comes as the United States steps up economic pressure on Iran. For India, the development could have implications for exporters, particularly those shipping agricultural products, food items and pharmaceuticals to the Iranian market.

India’s trade with Iran has already declined sharply over the years. However, Indian exporters continue to maintain a trade surplus with Tehran, making the potential impact of tighter US sanctions an issue to watch.

What did Trump say about Iran?

Trump has announced what he described as the “most crushing economic operation” against Iran and said the US would pursue economic warfare and isolation against Tehran.

His warning extends beyond Iran itself. Trump said countries, financial institutions and businesses that provide Tehran with financial or commercial support could face severe consequences.

The activities cited in his warning include oil smuggling, cash transfers, currency swap lines, exchange houses, ship registries and front companies.

“This will be an ECONOMIC D-DAY, and we need all of our Allies to stand with the United States of America to isolate, and defeat, the Iran threat,” Trump said.

He also warned that countries allowing their financial institutions, businesses, airports or government entities to support Iran could face “TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences”.

How much does India trade with Iran?

India remains an important trading partner of Iran, although bilateral trade has fallen significantly from previous levels.

According to data from the Indian Embassy in Tehran cited in the report, India’s exports to Iran stood at $1.25 billion in 2025-26, while imports from Iran were around $370 million. This gave India a trade surplus of approximately $880 million.

The scale of bilateral trade is considerably smaller than it was several years ago.

In 2018-19, India-Iran trade was worth $17.03 billion. India’s imports from Iran stood at $13.53 billion that year, while exports were $3.51 billion.

By 2024-25, total bilateral trade had fallen to $1.68 billion.

This sharp decline means India’s overall economic exposure to Iran is now relatively limited compared with the size of the Indian economy. However, businesses that continue to depend on the Iranian market could still face difficulties if US sanctions and enforcement are tightened.

What does India export to Iran?

India’s trade relationship with Iran extends beyond energy.

Major Indian exports to Iran include:

• Basmati rice
• Tea
• Sugar
• Fresh fruits
• Drugs and pharmaceuticals
• Spices
• Cereals and other food products

Iran also exports products including pistachios, dates, apples and kiwis to India.

Any disruption to this trade could therefore affect businesses involved in agricultural products, food items and pharmaceuticals.

Why could Trump’s warning affect Indian exporters?

The immediate risk is not necessarily that India’s entire trade with Iran will stop.

Instead, Indian exporters could face greater difficulties with payments, shipping and logistics if the US expands sanctions or increases enforcement against businesses and financial institutions dealing with Tehran.

Shipping disruptions and higher freight costs could add to the pressure. The Strait of Hormuz remains a key pressure point, while vessel rerouting, elevated freight rates and tighter container availability can increase the cost and complexity of international trade.

For exporters with direct exposure to Iran, such disruptions could make shipments more expensive and payments more complicated.

India’s exports are finding other markets

India’s broader export performance provides some cushion against a potential slowdown in trade with Iran.

India’s merchandise exports reached a record $44.24 billion in July, representing a 19.6 per cent increase from a year earlier, according to the figures cited in the report.

Engineering goods exports rose 17.7 per cent to $12.24 billion, while electronics exports jumped 57.4 per cent to around $5.9 billion.

Exports to the Middle East also increased 8.6 per cent to $5.7 billion.

India has also been expanding its trade across several other markets. In July, exports to China increased 64.57 per cent year-on-year to $2.2 billion, while shipments to Singapore rose 83.7 per cent to $1.6 billion.

Exports to the US increased 12.85 per cent to $9.02 billion.

The diversification of India’s export markets could help businesses reduce their dependence on individual markets if geopolitical tensions disrupt trade with Iran.

Will Trump’s Iran warning hurt India?

Trump’s warning could affect Indian exporters doing business with Iran through higher shipping costs, payment complications and weaker demand if economic pressure on Tehran intensifies.

The impact is likely to be more significant for businesses with direct exposure to the Iranian market than for the Indian economy as a whole.

India-Iran trade has already contracted substantially from its earlier levels. With Indian exporters increasingly accessing markets across regions including ASEAN, Africa, South Asia and North-East Asia, India may be better placed to absorb the impact of any further disruption in Iran trade.