Bhubaneswar: The INDIA bloc in Odisha has appealed for a peaceful and disciplined statewide bandh October 8, directing its supporters to keep all essential and emergency services outside the purview of the 12-hour dawn-to-dusk shutdown.
The bandh has been called demanding withdrawal of the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026, resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, resignation of state School and Mass Education Minister Nitayananda Gond over errors in textbooks, and adequate rehabilitation and compensation for people affected by floods.
Issuing a set of guidelines for bandh supporters, the INDIA bloc appealed to them to peacefully request shops, markets, commercial establishments, private offices and other business establishments to remain closed during the shutdown.
It also asked its supporters to undertake democrat ic campaigning, picketing, sit-ins and other protest programmes to persuade government and private offices, educational institutions, markets and commercial establishments to suspend normal activities.
Transport operators, including buses, auto-rickshaws, trucks and other public and commercial vehicles, would also be requested to keep their ser vices off the roads during the bandh, the guidelines said.
The bloc stressed that bandh activists should maintain polite, courteous and restrained behaviour with the public and assist people travelling for emergencies.
Special assistance should be extended to patients, elderly persons, children and women wherever necessary, it said.
The guidelines made it clear that hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, emergency medical centres, diagnostic centres, blood banks and other healthcare facilities would remain completely outside the purview of the bandh.
Doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers would also be allowed to perform their duties without obstruction.
Students appearing in examinations would not be prevented from reaching their examination centres, the bloc said.
Similarly, 108, 102 and other ambulances would be allowed free passage under all circumstances.
Fire services, rescue teams and emergency service vehicles would be provided completely unob structed passage, it said.
Pharmacies, Jan Aus hadhi Kendras and supplies of essential medicines would remain outside the bandh.
Milk distribution centres, milk vehicles and essential milk supplies would also not be affected.
It further instructed bandh workers not to prevent media representatives, journalists and persons engaged in news gathering from carrying out their professional duties