Youth Cong activists stage protest sans any issue: Minister

Jharkhand Minister Saryu Roy today said he welcomed the 15-minute peaceful "protest" outside his residence here by Youth Congress activists but the protesters did not give any memorandum on their demand to him.

"Learning from a media report that Youth Congress activists would 'gherao' my residence in Ranchi, I waited for them till 2 pm with tea and snacks," Roy, the Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said in a statement here.

Stating that he had left for office after no one turned up till 2 pm, Roy said he returned to his residence 55 minutes later after learning that about 50 activists had arrived.

However, he added, the protesters by then concluded their programme with only a couple of persons standing near the gate, who neither gave anything in writing nor told him anything about the reason of their gherao.

"Issue-based protest by the opposition is the hallmark of democracy. I am ready to discuss with the opposition on issues. Had they given me any suggestions it would have been easy for me. I will wait for their suggestions," Roy said.