Nabarangpur,Oct 5 [UDN}:: Leaders of the INDIA bloc constituents in Nabarangpur district have appealed to the people to extend full support to the peaceful Odisha Bandh scheduled for October 8, 2026. The appeal was made at a press conference held in the district.
Former MP and Nabarangpur Parliamentary Constituency observer Nakul Nayak, representing the Pradesh Congress Committee, urged the people to support the bandh and raised several demands, including the immediate repeal of the MMDR Amendment Act.
Nayak alleged that the Centre was attempting to increase its control over mineral-rich areas inhabited by tribal communities and facilitate corporate exploitation of mineral resources by large industrialists and mining interests.
The INDIA bloc leaders also demanded the removal and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They alleged that widespread irregularities and arbitrary changes had been made in voter lists during the SIR exercise, undermining public confidence in the electoral system. They called for the withdrawal of SIR to ensure neutrality in voter-list preparation and election management and to protect democratic institutions.
Another major demand was the immediate resignation of Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond. The leaders alleged that the state government and the administration under the minister had pushed the primary education system into severe disarray.
The leaders also criticised the state government over the situation caused by prolonged monsoon and low-pressure-induced rainfall and repeated flooding across Odisha during the past three months. They alleged that the BJP government had failed to adequately evacuate people to safer locations in advance and provide timely relief.
According to the leaders, agricultural crops have suffered extensive damage due to the floods and heavy rainfall. They demanded immediate adequate compensation for affected farmers and waiver of agricultural loans, alleging that the government had remained indifferent to the plight of the farming community.
Nayak warned that the INDIA bloc would continue its agitation until the demands were fulfilled. He appealed to traders, transport workers, youth, women, employees from all sections, labourers and the general public to join hands with the INDIA bloc and make the October 8 Odisha Bandh peaceful and successful.
Among those present at the press conference were co-observers Krushna Kuldeep and Durga Prasad Sharma, CPI and CPI(M) leader Rajesh Jani and party workers, Nabarangpur District Congress president Dr Lipika Majhi, former MLA Bhujabal Majhi, former district president Munna Tripathy, Dilip Behera, Pradeep Sahu, Brundaban Tripathy, Prahallad Hial, Shivaram Raju, Ganesh Pattnaik, Yazir Hussain, G. Sai Raju, P. Nagaratnam, Akhil Bhatra, San Raj Gond, Dibakar Pujari, Banshi Majhi and Parshu Nayak, besides several Mahila Congress workers and other district Congress functionaries.
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