Bhubaneswar: Congress observed hartal across Odisha from 6 am to 12 noon today in demand of resignation of Minister of State for Home, Dibya Shankar Mishra, over his alleged links with the prime accused Govinda Sahu in the sensational Mamita Meher murder case.
The Odisha Congress unit had given a call for a bandh across the state. However, the Orissa High Court on Thursday stated that only a hartal can be held and not a bandh.
A Cuttack businessman had filed a petition in Orissa HC protesting against the Congress Odisha bandh call on November 12. A division bench headed by Chief Justice S Muralidhar said that no political party is entitled to paralyze normal life in the name of the bandh. The Court stated that the hartal cannot be forced on anyone.
It held that vehicles cannot be stopped on the roads and roads cannot be blocked. Buses and trains cannot be halted. The protest can only be observed in a peaceful manner.
Following this, the Congress assured the court that the protest would be peaceful. The Court also directed the director general of police to take action against protesters who forcibly try to disrupt normal life. A 35-platoon police force have been deployed in Twin Cities to maintain law and order.
It is noteworthy of that a decision was taken in this regard by the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) meeting held on November 1. The meeting was attended by Niranjan Patnaik, President, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee.
Later after the meeting on November 1, OPCC spokesperson Rajani Mohanty said that the party has appealed to people in order to support the bandh call for the sake of dignity and protection of women in the state.
BJP has been observing strikes in different districts of Odisha over justice for the murder case of Mahalinga Sunshine Public School teacher Mamita Meher.
Also read: Congress calls for 6-hour Odisha bandh tomorrow
Ms Kalinga