Normal life was on Wednesday affected in Sundargarh district due to a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the district Congress and Rourkela organisational district Congress protesting the forcible removal of black stoles, scarves and shawls worn by women at the venue of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s meeting here recently.
While shops and other business establishments and educational institutions remained closed, vehicular movement came to a grinding halt across the district.
Congress activists picketed at various places forcing closure of shops and private offices. They also staged a road blockade on the NH near Panposh Square in Rourkela, as a result of which hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on both sides of the road.
Sundargarh District Congress president Dushmant Nayak said at a Press conference, “Investigation into the stole removal incidence is yet to start despite a probe order by the Chief Minister. This is resulting in delay in action against the wrongdoers. We demand that the CM tender unconditional apology to the women.”
It may be recalled here that security agencies, including police, in charge of the Chief Minister’s meeting at Mangaspur in Sundargarh district on December 4 forcibly removed women participants’ black stoles, scarves and shawls before entering the meeting venue.
Even though many of the women were visibly upset and protested, some women constables were seen pushing and shoving them in a bid to ensure that no one used garments as black flags or use them as a means to oppose the Chief Minister.