CM Mohan Majhi Slams Odisha Bandh, Calls INDIA Bloc Protests Undemocratic
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has strongly criticised the statewide bandh called by INDIA bloc parties, accusing the opposition of disrupting public life and causing inconvenience to citizens in the name of protest.
The bandh, observed across the state, led to road blockades and disruptions in transportation and commercial activities in several districts.
The 12-hour shutdown was organised by nine INDIA bloc parties, including Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) Liberation, Forward Bloc, NCP (Sharad Pawar), Samajwadi Party, RJD and JMM.
The opposition claimed the protest was aimed at safeguarding democratic and constitutional values while pressing several key demands.
Among the demands raised during the bandh were the withdrawal of the MMDR (Amendment) Act, resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over alleged factual inaccuracies in school textbooks.
Reacting sharply to the protest, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated that while democratic dissent is a constitutional right, blocking roads and disrupting normal life cannot be justified.
He said the inconvenience caused to commuters, workers, patients and students reflected what he described as an undemocratic approach by the opposition.
The Chief Minister also defended the Election Commission of India, asserting that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is a routine and impartial exercise conducted by an independent constitutional authority.
He alleged that opposition parties were attempting to politicise the issue for electoral gains.
Several parts of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Brahmapur, Balasore, Bhadrak and Bargarh witnessed protest demonstrations during the bandh.
Public transport services, marketplace operations and daily activities were affected, prompting authorities to deploy security personnel and take preventive measures to maintain law and order.
While the opposition described the bandh as a fight for public interest and constitutional rights, the state government maintained that democratic protests should not come at the cost of public convenience.
The latest confrontation has further intensified the political battle between the ruling BJP government and the opposition INDIA bloc in Odisha.
