Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Odisha Chief Minister Criticises INDIA Bloc Over Bandh Conduct
A group of opposition parties held a 12-hour shutdown in Odisha on Thursday.
They were protesting a new mining law, problems they say are in school textbooks, and concerns about changes to voter lists.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said people can protest but should not frighten or bother others.
He accused Congress and INDIA bloc members of harassing people, but those claims were not independently confirmed in the report.
Some areas saw road blockades, and many shops, schools and buses were closed.
A BJP spokesperson said most of the state was not greatly affected.
He also alleged that some protesters intimidated people.
The reports therefore differed on how much the shutdown disrupted daily life.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi accused INDIA bloc parties of intimidating and harassing citizens during Thursday’s bandh.
Majhi said the right to protest must not disrupt people’s daily lives and described the electoral-roll revision as a routine process.
The 12-hour bandh was called over a new mining law, alleged errors in school textbooks and claimed irregularities in the SIR exercise.
Reports said demonstrations and road blockades affected normal life in several districts, with many businesses, schools and public transport services closed.
BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal said life was largely unaffected statewide, while alleging that Congress and Left party workers intimidated people in some places.
- Who
- Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi criticised INDIA bloc parties; demonstrations were held by supporters of INDIA bloc parties.
- What
- A 12-hour bandh and protests prompted allegations of harassment and disagreement over how much daily life was disrupted.
- When
- Thursday; the article does not specify the date.
- Where
- Odisha, India, with reported effects in several districts.
- Why
- The bandh was called to protest a new mining law, alleged errors in school textbooks and alleged irregularities in the SIR electoral-roll exercise.
- Bandh duration
- 12 hours
- Day held
- Thursday
- Protest issues
- A new mining law, alleged errors in school textbooks, and alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise
- Reported disruption
- Businesses, petrol pumps, shops and many educational institutes were closed; buses and autorickshaws were off the road.
- Majhi's position
- He said protest is a democratic right but should not intimidate citizens or disrupt their daily lives.
- Contrasting account
- The report described effects in several districts; BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal said normal life was largely unaffected across the state.