Bhubaneswar: Normal life was affected in many parts of Odisha on Thursday due to the bandh called by INDIA bloc to press for the ouster of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Odisha education minister Nityanand Gond, repeal of the MMDR Act and other demands.Common people bore the brunt of the bandh as buses remained off the roads, causing inconvenience to commuters. Many shops and business establishments stayed shut fearing backlash from protesters. Agitating protesters picketed at busy squares in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and other parts of the state.Protesters stopped autorickshaws, govt buses and cabs during the Odisha bandh. Congress and Left party members halted two trains — the Sambalpur-Puri Intercity and the Durg-Puri Intercity — for several minutes as part of the protest. People coming out of the airport faced difficulties in getting cabs.The protesters also stopped two-wheelers and private cars, including those carrying women and elderly people. Several commuters were stopped while going to their offices and dropping their children at schools.“The party activists stopped me at Patia Square in Bhubaneswar while I was going to my office at Infocity. I had an altercation with the protesters, but they did not allow me to go. I finally returned from the square and took an inner road to reach Infocity,” said Sujit Nayak, an IT professional from Patia.People were stranded at Baramunda bus stand as buses remained off the roads on Thursday. “I got stuck at Baramunda bus stand as no buses were plying to Kendrapada. I felt helpless and stayed there till 5 pm. I had a medical emergency at home,” said Nityananda Kund, who stays in Bhubaneswar.Anuj C, a resident of Mumbai, said he was stuck at Biju Patnaik International Airport due to the bandh. “I wanted to visit Puri Jagannath Dham, but I did not get any cab,” he added. All Odisha Private Bus Owners’ Association general secretary Debendra Kumar Sahoo said buses from Baramunda bus terminal did not ply to avoid any face-off with bandh picketers on the way to their destinations.“Buses were plying in some districts of western Odisha and interior pockets of other parts of the state. But cities were affected due to the bandh,” he added.In Kandhamal district, a milk van was stuck among other vehicles during the bandh. In Bhadrak, protesters had a scuffle with a policeman. Some Congress workers also stopped a judge in Bargarh during the bandh. Goods transportation was affected.In a press statement, the INDIA bloc said the Odisha bandh received an unprecedented response across the state, with its constituent parties coming together in Bhubaneswar to stage a strong and united protest.Members and workers of the INDIA bloc parties assembled at Master Canteen Square and took out a joint march towards the state assembly. During the march, the protesters raised slogans in support of their demands and expressed strong opposition to the policies of govt. A large number of party members and workers were detained by the police during the procession, the statement said. “The INDIA bloc leaders stated that the united struggle to protect democracy, the Constitution, the electoral process and the constitutional rights of the states will continue in the days ahead,” the statement said.
