Shops, offices, schools closed, transport off road during Bharat Bandh in Odisha

In Bhubaneswar, members of Odisha farmers union and other protestors staged a Railway blockade and stopped traffic at the Master Canteen Square. In Balasore, the agitators prevented the Bangiriposi Express from leaving, and on the main road of the town, vehicles were detained

Updated on: Sep 27, 2021, 13:33:44 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Normal life was affected in several districts of Odisha on Monday following a 10-hour countrywide shutdown called by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a united front of farmer outfits that has been demanding repeal of the three farm laws enacted by Centre a year ago. The shutdown in Odisha is supported by political parties such as the Congress and the Communist Party of India (CPI).

Protesting farmers’ organisations stopped trains at several places in Odisha including at Keonjhar, Bhubaneswar , Balasore, Bolangir. (HT Photo)

The Bharat Bandh began from 6 am and will end at 4 pm and protestors had urged that all government and private offices, educational and other institutions, shops, industries, and commercial establishments as well as public events and functions remained shut during this period. However, emergency services including ambulances and fire services were exempted.

In Bhubaneswar, members of Odisha Krushak Sangha and other protestors staged a Rail Roko (Railway Blockade) and stopped traffic at the Master Canteen Square. In Balasore, the agitators prevented the Bangiriposi Express from leaving, and on the main road of the town, vehicles were detained on roads. In Bolangir, the agitators closed the main post office and picketed at the railway station, obstructing Ispat Express for about half an hour.

“The farmers are on strike since the last 10 months. But, PM Modi did not get time to discuss the issue with the agitating farmers. We are observing the ‘bandh’ (shutdown) demanding the repeal of the three farm laws,” said zonal secretary of CPI, Sura Jena.

The government had already closed all educational institutions in the state on Monday over cyclone Gulab’s impact in southern Odisha. Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) buses will not ply till 3 pm today in view of the shutdown.

Special secretary of home department, Santosh Bala had advised secretaries of all departments to ask all state employees working at the Lok Seva Bhawan, Kharavela Bhawan, Rajiv Bhawan and the heads of departments to reach office at least by 9.30 am on Monday.

Several shops, business establishments, government, and private offices, were closed across the state. Major roads including state and National Highways have been blocked affecting vehicular communication.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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