Bhubaneswar: September 10: Normal life paralysed in the state today due to Bharat Bandh call given by Congress and other political parties. Since morning, Congress activists staged protest in different parts of the state against fuel price hike. Vehicular movement almost stopped in most parts of the state. As Buses stayed off roads due to Bandh, passengers were seen stranded at Bus Stands in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and other places of state.
Similarly, train services were affected in different parts of the state. Political workers staged rail rook at Balangir, Bhubaneswar, Bhadrak, Sambalpur, and Cuttack stations disrupting movement of several trains.
Besides doing picketing in front of different offices of the state, Congress activists staged road blockade by burning tyres at almost all district headquarters.
In Balasore, members of Congress and Left parties stage picketing jointly as a mark of protest against the fuel price hike. Congress members blocked NH-59 near Baliguda. Vehicular traffic was disrupted on Puri-Bhubaneswar route due to the strike. Protests were held by Congress members in five blocks of Nuapada district.
Activists of Left parties stage a road blockade at Gunupur bypass in Rayagada extending support to the bandh call.
Life in capital city Bhubaneswar was completely affected as Congress workers blocked road at almost all important places. Several senior Congress leaders also staged dharna at the Master Canteen Square near Congress Bhawan. Besides, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Niranjan Patnaik with hundreds of party workers later staged picketing near the main gate of Odisha Legislative Assembly and demonstration in front of State Secretariat.
