The ‘Odisha Bandh’ called by the INDIA Bloc on Thursday witnessed overwhelming public support, bringing normal life to a standstill across the state.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das declared the strike a historic success, extending his gratitude to the citizens and the media for their unprecedented cooperation.
Simultaneously, the day was observed as ‘Black Day’ across Odisha to protest the alleged inhuman treatment of senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other leaders by the police in New Delhi.
High-Voltage Protests and Mass Detentions
The bandh was marked by intense picketing, sloganeering, and rallies across various streets of Bhubaneswar. The agitation reached a boiling point when INDIA Bloc leaders and workers gathered at Master Canteen Square and initiated a joint march toward the Lok Seva Bhawan.
Police intervened during the rally, resulting in the preventive detention of hundreds of political workers, including OPCC Chief Bhakta Charan Das and several senior leaders.
The strike was organized to press for a four-point charter of demands:
- The immediate withdrawal of the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026.
- Accountability for the government’s failure in flood disaster management.
- The resignation of Nityananda Gond.
- The dismissal of Gyanesh Kumar and the implementation of structural electoral reforms.
A Warning to the Government and a Swipe at BJD
Addressing the media, Bhakta Charan Das emphasized that the widespread impact of the bandh from the district to the panchayat level proves that the INDIA Bloc’s demands have resonated deeply with the public.
“Further massive protests will follow. We will gherao the ministers. If they do not respect democracy, we know how to make the people’s voices heard,” Das warned.
Taking a sharp dig at the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which claimed to offer “mental support” to the strike, Das stated, “When they protest in the future, we will put forth our stance. But we will not make a U-turn like them.”
A United Front for Democracy
The bandh showcased a massive show of strength and unity among the INDIA Bloc partners. State leaders from the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML)-Liberation, Forward Bloc, NCP (Sharad Pawar), Samajwadi Party, RJD, and JMM actively participated in the agitations.
Reaffirming their commitment to the state, the INDIA Bloc leadership announced that their united struggle to protect India’s democracy, the Constitution, the electoral process, and the federal rights of states will continue with heightened intensity in the coming days.
