The 66th death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was observed by different organisations here on Thursday.The Manav Adhikar Suraksha Manch (MASM) held a meeting near the Gandhi statue at Gandhinagar Square and paid floral tributes to the Father of the Nation. The meeting presided over by MASM coordinator Abani Kumar Gaya.

Speaking on the occasion, former Assembly Deputy Speaker Rama Chandra Panda said Gandhiji’s teachings of ahimsa and nonviolent civil disobedience are true to all time to come. It would be a great tribute to Gandhiji if the Government imposes total prohibition on sale and consumption of liquor to ensure a violence-free society.

Gaya also demanded immediate implementation of the Prohibition of liquor Act 1956 in the State which is witnessing crimes and violence due to liquor consumption.

Among others, social activist Dr AR Verma, former OSSTA leader Govind Das, MASM president Upendranath Mishra and general secretary Maguni Nahak, Bansidhar Bhuyan, Syamsundar Sadangi, scribe Prasant Das, Dillip Choudhury, Krushna Charan Panigrahi, SS Khadanga, Syambasiv Rao, Sarifun Nisa, Bishnupriya Rana, Trinath Maharana and lakshminarayan Rout also spoke.

Members of the Janahitakar Party headed by Rastriya Nava Nirman Sena leader Padma Charan Das also garlanded the Gandhi statue and held a meeting there. Das demanded enforcement of the liquor prohibition law, decentralisation of power and stringent action for prevention of corruption.

Among others, scribe and academician Prof KC Panda, Ramakanta Nayak, Deenabandhu Maharana, Subash Chandra Patra and Trinath Mahapatra also spoke.