No Support Yet To Tomorrow’s ‘Bharat Bandh’ From Odisha Outfits

Bhubaneswar: After demonstrations and rallies against CAA and NRC, Bahujan Kranti Morcha has called for Bharat Bandh across 31 states and 550 districts on Wednesday (January 29).

Posters in Odia appealing for complete shut down are also being circulated by the outfit. However, no mainstream political parties or social organisations in Odisha have so far issued any statement either supporting or opposing the bandh.

The Morcha led by Waman Mshram has appealed to Bhujans, SCs, STs, OBCs, religious minorities, intellectuals, lawyers, professionals, workers, organisations, NGOs, trade unions and youths to support the shut down call.

The first phase of the Morcha being organised by the All India Backward (SC, ST, and OBC) and Minority Communities Employees Federation was on December 20, last year. It was followed by protests and rallies across 550 districts in the country on January 9. A letter with 12 demands, including issues pertaining to NRC, CAA, EVM, and VVPAT, was submitted to the respective district administration.

However, they are not the only one to have called for Bharat Bandh. Women of Shaheen Bagh, who have been on 24/7 sit-in protest since the passage of CAA in both houses of Parliament on December 11, have given a similar call after the Supreme court refused to grant any stay on implementation of the Act.