Odisha Disrupted By Bharat Bandh: Dalit & Adivasi Groups Protest For Marginalized Communities

Normal life in Odisha faced significant disruption on Wednesday due to a dawn-to-dusk ‘Bharat Bandh’ organized by Dalit and Adivasi groups. The protest, aimed at demanding stronger representation and protection for marginalized communities, led to widespread interruptions in transportation and daily activities. Protesters blocked train tracks, halted bus services, and obstructed major roads, creating significant inconveniences for commuters and disrupting the movement of essential goods.

In Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Rayagada, and other areas, demonstrators picketed at key transport hubs, including railway stations and bus stops. In Sambalpur, agitators halted the Sambalpur-Puri and Sambalpur-Rayagada trains at Khetrajpur station for 30 minutes before allowing them to continue. Public transportation was severely affected, with no buses operating and general commutes coming to a standstill.

Support for the bandh extended beyond protesters, as shops, malls, and trade associations in Bolangir, Subarnapur, Jajpur, and Angul joined in. The National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organizations (NACDAOR) opposed a recent Supreme Court judgment, claiming it undermines the constitutional rights of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). They called for the enactment of new legislation on reservations for SCs, STs, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to be included in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. The protest received backing from various groups, including the Bhim Army and Odisha Adivasi Kalyan Mahasangh.