Bhubaneswar: On the birth anniversary of Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das, hundreds of citizens from diverse walks of life took out a ‘Peace and Harmony March’ here Thursday, condemning recent attempts to incite communal hatred and violence in Cuttack, a city long celebrated for its spirit of brotherhood and unity.
Starting from Master Canteen Square, participants raised slogans for peace and pledged to uphold the values of democracy, equality, secularism, and constitutional integrity.
The march, led by former Delhi University professor Manoranjan Mohanty, moved from Raj Mahal Square to Master Canteen Square, where a meeting was held to reaffirm the message of communal harmony.
The march was also attended by prominent participants, including Debaprasad Ray, Suresh Panigrahy, Sudhir Pattnaik and others.
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Representatives from various political parties, civil society groups, human rights activists, lawyers, farmers, labour and women’s organisations, and concerned citizens joined hands to appeal for peace and communal harmony across the state.
Speakers expressed concern over the recent communal tensions in Cuttack during Dussehra idol immersion, calling it an attack on the city’s long-standing legacy of unity and goodwill.
They urged everyone to protect the spirit of fraternity that has flourished for centuries in Cuttack’s lanes, markets, and neighbourhoods.
The gathering also demanded that the Odisha government take strong measures to maintain peace and harmony across the state, act firmly against hate-mongering and divisive forces, and organise peace rallies involving students, youth, women, and the public in all districts.
