Koraput: The 12-hour Bharat Bandh called by the Samvidhan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti against the Supreme Court order on evicting tribals hit normal life in Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts. But the bandh had no impact in Koraput district.
Although the SC had stayed the order after a petition by the Centre, tribal groups think that it is only a temporary relief in the absence of a law. They want the Centre to issue an ordinance immediately to protect their rights.
Normal life was thrown out of gear and traffic came to a halt in Malkangiri. Markets and businesses remained closed.
In Nabarangpur, protesters staged a blockade on the NH burning tyres. The movement of vehicles was hit and shops were closed.
The protesters belonging to Samvidhan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti said the government was ignoring tribals, minorities and the poor, and that the bandh was called to protect their rights.
Lukewarm response in Berhampur
Berhampur: The dawn to dusk bandh call got a lukewarm response here. Vehicles continued to ply and businesses opened as usual Tuesday.
The bandh was called protesting against the Centre’s 10 per cent reservation for the financially weak of forward communities.
Traffic was normal in the city and passenger buses were seen moving to their destinations from the new bus stand. All business establishments opened as usual and did normal business.
The bandh was partially felt in the morning when members of the Sambidhan Banchao Sangharsh Samiti and Pachhua Barga Vikash Manch took out a motorcycle rally from Kamapalli and tried to enforce the bandh by blocking the new bus stand.
As a result buses going to Aska, Bhanjanagar, Mohana, Adaba, Rayagada, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack were stranded from 10 am to 1 pm. The buses could not leave and were stuck inside the bus stand with passengers. They resumed service in the afternoon. All government and private offices remained open.
Prabhakar Sahu, district president of the Manch and Atoj Tiruman, the state coordinator of the Samiti, led their activists during the bandh.
PNN
