1 hr ago
BJD Stays Away From INDIA Bloc’s Odisha Bandh
Nine parties in the INDIA bloc called for a 12-hour shutdown in Odisha on Thursday, October 8.
They are protesting a new mining law, alleged mistakes in school textbooks and the SIR exercise.
The BJD said it would not join or oppose the shutdown.
The party said it wants to stay separate from both the BJP-led and Congress-led political groups.
BJD leaders said their party had separately protested the mining law and textbook errors.
The INDIA bloc parties asked people to take part and held a torchlight rally.
They said hospitals, ambulances, fire services, medicine shops and milk supply would keep operating.
The BJP’s state president said the shutdown would not affect people, and officials were told to prepare to keep order.
The BJD said it would neither support nor oppose the 12-hour Odisha bandh called for Thursday, October 8.
Nine INDIA bloc parties called the bandh to protest a new mining law, alleged textbook errors and the SIR exercise.
BJD media coordinator Lenin Mohanty said the party would remain equidistant from the BJP-led NDA and Congress-led opposition alliance.
The INDIA bloc parties appealed to the public to join the strike; hospitals, ambulances, fire services, medicine shops and milk supply were to be exempt.
Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal said the bandh would have no impact, while the state directed district officials to maintain law and order.
- Who
- Nine INDIA bloc parties called the bandh; the BJD decided to stay away, and the Odisha BJP opposed its expected impact.
- What
- A 12-hour bandh in Odisha, with essential services exempted.
- Where
- Odisha, India.
- When
- Thursday, October 8; the BJD announced its decision on Wednesday, October 7.
- Why
- The INDIA bloc parties said the bandh was against a new mining law, alleged errors in school textbooks and the SIR exercise.
Bandh supporters
Bandh critics and nonparticipants
Whether to hold the shutdown
Bandh supporters
Nine INDIA bloc parties called for the bandh and appealed to people to participate, citing the mining law, alleged textbook errors and the SIR exercise.
Bandh critics and nonparticipants
The BJD said it would neither support nor oppose the bandh, maintaining that it was equidistant from the BJP and Congress. Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal said the bandh would have no impact on people.
Key facts
- Bandh duration
- 12 hours
- Scheduled date
- Thursday, October 8
- Calling parties
- Nine parties of the INDIA bloc
- BJD position
- Neither supporting nor opposing the bandh
- Stated protest issues
- A new mining law, alleged textbook errors and the SIR exercise
- Exempt services
- Hospitals, ambulances, fire services, medicine shops and milk supply
- Constitutional provision cited
- Article 326, concerning elections based on adult suffrage
Quotes
Lenin Mohanty
BJD media coordinator
“BJD is neither supporting nor opposing the bandh called for tomorrow. As we focus on the rights of the people in Odisha, we remain equidistant from both the BJP and Congress.”
theprint.in
“We opposed the MMDR Amendment Act 2026 and went to the streets. We also protested against books consisting of more than 1,800 errors.”
theprint.in
Sources
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