Title - Dawn-to-dusk bandh hits normal life in Odisha - Long route trains including Puri-Hatia Tapaswini Exp

Bhubaneswar:The Dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the Odisha unit of BJP has hit normal life in Odisha as  public transport to go off the road,  and  left many commuters on the way to their respective destinations in the lurch today.

Party activists  resorted to road blockade and rail rook at various places during the 12 hour bandh protesting  death of dalit girl who was allegedly raped.

Rail services have also hit as the protesters  blocked rail track at Bhubaneswar station. Long route trains including Puri-Hatia Tapaswini Express, Puri- Yasavantpur express, Sambalpur and Bolangir Intercity were stopped at the platforms.

Expressing irk over the delay in train, a commuter said “We cannot reach our destination on time. The protesters should not halt train services.”

Demanding Naveen Patnaik’s resignation an activists said “People are supporting the bandh and  Naveen Patnaik has no right to continue. He should quit”.

The party members in and around the city blocked the road at different squares including Jayadev Vihar, Master Canteen, Rasulgarh square and Vani Vihar. They stopped all vehicles by picketing. Tyres were also found burnt on the roads at many places to obstruct the vehicles.

The ruling BJD however condemned  BJP’s bandh saying the bandh had caused hardship to the people.

Similarly, Odisha Congress has also declared to launch civil disobedience movement on August 20 and gherao the State Assembly during the session demanding CM’s resignation.