The 12-hour Odisha bandh called on Wednesday, September 30, by the Navnirman Krushak Sangh (NNKS) and Navnirman Yuva Chhatra Sangh (NYCS) had virtually zero impact in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Kataka, with normal life, transport, and markets remaining completely unaffected.
The shutdown was called to press for the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityanand Gond and to protest alleged massive errors in school textbooks. However, daily life in the capital city and Kataka went on as usual.
Peaceful Protests and Police Action
Activists attempted picketing on the National Highway near the Baramunda bus stand in Bhubaneswar. In a unique gesture, protesters distributed chocolates to people passing by, requesting their support for the bandh. While a few attempts were made to burn tyres and block roads—including at Master Canteen Square—police acted swiftly to clear the areas.
Bhubaneswar DCP Saravana Vivek M stated that extensive security arrangements were deployed across the capital, with senior officials and forces manning strategic locations. Several agitators trying to block roads were detained by the police and later released on bonds.
Commissionerate Police deployed around 10 platoon forces and 15 officers for round-the-clock patrolling and vehicle checking at key intersections like Jaydev Vihar Square. Essential services, hospitals, ambulances, and fire services remained completely outside the purview of the shutdown and operated without hindrance. The Board of Secondary Education (BSE) also clarified that no scheduled examinations were postponed due to the protest.
Core Issues Raised by Protesters
The agitating outfits, led by National Coordinator Akshay Kumar—who has been on a dharna since September 6—claimed there are over 1,700 errors in textbooks from Class 1 to 8. Controversial examples cited include depicting the Niyamgiri hills in Jharkhand, printing an image of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly instead of Odisha’s, and misidentifying scientist Isaac Newton as a pilot, alongside allegations of a financial irregularity worth around 380 crore rupees.
While partial impacts were reported in isolated pockets such as a brief NH-16 blockade at Talanagar Chakh in Soro (Baleshwar) and parts of Bhadrak, the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack remained entirely unaffected, bringing relief to commuters and local businesses.
