Bhubaneswar, 08 October (H.S.): The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Thursday claimed that the Odisha bandh called by the INDIA bloc was observed peacefully and received widespread public support across the state.

The bandh was jointly supported by the Indian National Congress, CPI, Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI (ML) Liberation, All India Forward Bloc, Samajwadi Party, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar), Rashtriya Janata Dal and other parties.

The bandh was called over several demands, including repeal of the amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, immediate removal of Gyanesh Kumar from the post of Chief Election Commissioner, dismissal of Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over alleged errors in textbooks, and adequate compensation and relief for people affected by floods.

In a statement, the Odisha State Council of the CPI congratulated the people of the state for extending what it described as unprecedented support to the bandh.

According to the CPI, picketing was carried out at Bhubaneswar Railway Station, Baramunda and several Central and State government offices. Business establishments, commercial activities and vehicular movement were also affected during the bandh.

CPI activists staged protests at several locations in Bhubaneswar, including Rajmahal Square, Kalpana Square, Master Canteen, Damana and Patia. The protests were led by CPI Odisha State Secretary Dr Prashant Kumar Mishra, Assistant Secretary Jayant Das and other party leaders.

The CPI said its activists, along with leaders and workers of other INDIA bloc parties, took out a joint procession towards the State Secretariat. Police detained several protesters and took them to the Bhubaneswar Police Lines.

Condemning the arrests, the CPI alleged that the BJP government in Odisha was attempting to suppress a peaceful democratic movement because of the public response to the bandh.

CPI State Secretary Dr Prashant Kumar Mishra warned that the agitation would be intensified and expanded across the state until the demands raised by the protesting parties were fulfilled.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda