Bhubaneswar, (Reporterpen), Aug 21: The dawn-to-dusk ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by Dalit and Adivasi organizations received a mixed response in Odisha on Wednesday.
The strike, organized by the Akhil Bharat SC/ST Samanaya Samiti in protest against the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on reservation sub-quota, saw limited participation across the state. Members of the Anusuchita Jati O Janajati Milita Mancha blocked NH-57 at Kantamal in Boudh district and staged protests in Umerkote, Nabarangpur. Train services were briefly disrupted at Khetrajpur station on the Samalpur-Puri and Sambalpur-Rayagada routes, with a 30-minute halt to train traffic.
Educational institutions were closed, and blockades caused some disruption to vehicular movement. Public transport was heavily impacted, with picket lines at bus stands in Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Rourkela, and Rayagada leaving passengers and office-goers stranded.
Shops, shopping malls, and various traders’ associations in Balangir, Sonepur, Jajpur, and Angul supported the bandh. However, most offices and business establishments remained operational, and essential services such as healthcare, fire services, and public water supply continued unaffected.
Overall, while the bandh caused some inconvenience, no major incidents were reported, and security measures were in place throughout the state.
