Bhubaneswar, Oct 9 (UDN): Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das on Wednesday described the statewide bandh called by the INDIA Bloc as a historic success, thanking citizens and the media for their cooperation while warning of intensified protests if the opposition’s demands remain unaddressed.
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The bandh was observed as a Black Day to protest the alleged mistreatment of senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other leaders by police in New Delhi. Opposition parties used the shutdown to highlight a series of political and governance-related demands directed at the state and central governments.
In a message posted on X, the Odisha Congress thanked people across the state for their support and solidarity in upholding democracy, citizens’ rights and Odisha’s interests. Das also expressed regret over the inconvenience caused by the bandh and acknowledged the patience and understanding shown by the public.
Protests and Detentions Across the State
The bandh witnessed demonstrations, rallies, sloganeering and picketing in Bhubaneswar and several other parts of Odisha.
Tensions escalated at Master Canteen Square in the state capital when INDIA Bloc leaders and supporters attempted to march towards Lok Seva Bhawan. Police intervened during the march and detained hundreds of protesters as a preventive measure, including OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das and several senior opposition leaders, according to the report.
Congress leaders maintained that the response to the bandh extended beyond urban centres, with participation reported from district headquarters to panchayat-level areas.
Four Key Demands Behind the Shutdown
The INDIA Bloc said the bandh was organised to press for a four-point charter of demands.
These include the immediate withdrawal of the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026; accountability for the government’s alleged failure in flood disaster management; the resignation of Minister Nityananda Gond; and the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar alongside the implementation of structural electoral reforms.
The opposition maintained that the issues required urgent attention and called for accountability from the authorities concerned.
Congress Warns of Intensified Agitation
Addressing the media, Das said the response to the bandh demonstrated that the opposition’s concerns had resonated with people across Odisha.
He warned that the Congress and its INDIA Bloc partners would intensify their agitation if the demands were not addressed. He also indicated that ministers could face gherao protests as part of the next phase of the campaign.
Das asserted that the opposition would continue to raise public concerns and defend democratic rights if the government failed to respond to its demands.
Dig at BJD Over Its Stand
The OPCC president also criticised the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) over its reported claim of extending moral support to the bandh.
Taking a swipe at the regional party, Das said the Congress would decide its position if the BJD organised protests in the future, adding that his party would not change its stand inconsistently.
The political exchange added another dimension to the opposition’s response following the shutdown, with the Congress seeking to maintain pressure on the government over its stated demands.
The bandh has set the stage for further political confrontation in Odisha, with the Congress signalling that its campaign will continue unless the issues raised by the INDIA Bloc receive a satisfactory response.
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