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Bhubaneswar: Normal life in Odisha was brought to a halt on Wednesday due to a dawn-to-dusk ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by Dalit and Adivasi organizations.
The demonstration, which sought to secure enhanced representation and protection for marginalized communities, effectively stopped the movement of trains, trucks, and other vehicles throughout the state.
Protestors obstructed railway lines, bus terminals, and key transport hubs, causing significant interruptions to public transport. Commuters and office-goers experienced considerable challenges as bus services were suspended and train operations were disrupted. In cities like Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Rourkela, and Rayagada, demonstrators impeded operations at train stations and bus depots.
The bandh received extensive support, with merchants and businesses in Bolangir, Subarnapur, Jajpur, and Angul participating in the protest.
The National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) led the bandh as a reaction to a recent Supreme Court decision.
NACDAOR has released a set of demands, calling on the government to reverse the ruling that they claim diminishes the constitutional rights of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). They demand the enactment of new laws for reservations for SCs, STs, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to be incorporated into the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
The protest has attracted backing from various groups, including the Bhim Army, the National Confederation of Dalit Organisation, and the Odisha Adivasi Kalyan Mahasangh. Despite the extensive disruptions, emergency services, such as ambulances, remained operational.
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