By the call of ‘India Unites for Nonviolence and Harmony,’ a State wide people’s protest and public gathering was organised in different places of Odisha on the eve of 71th martyrdom day of father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, rejecting culture of violence with a clarion call to speak and stand against hatred and resist the cultural violence in the name of caste, creed, religion, gender and regionalism.
The coordination committee coordinated by member of All India Secular Forum (AISF) and State convener of Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF) Narendra Mohanty organized various activities at the State capital, Ganjam and Kandhamal with like-minded secular social, cultural and political organisations. Activities like sit-in dharana, protests and peaceful gathering with slogans and placards were organised for the purpose.
The leaders and members of various organisations like All India Secular Forum(AISF), All India People’s Forum(AIPF), Indian Social Action Forum(INSAF), Odisha Jana ChetanaManch, Citizen’s Forum, National Federation of Indian Women(NFIW), Basti Surakshya Manch, Lokshakti Abhiyan, Humanist-Rationalist Organization, Campaign for Peace, Kandhamal, Campaign for Survival and Dignity(CSD), Odisha, ISCUF, Communist Party of India (ML)-Red Star, Forward Bloc and Kodingamali Surakshya Samiti(Koraput) participated at a State level rally at Master Canteen Square, with placards and slogans.
Similarly, students of Kandhamal gathered in front of Gandhi Statue at Phulbani under the banner of Campaign for Peace.
The rally and meeting were organized at Beguniapada block of Ganjam district under the leadership of Ganjam Zilla Adivasi Manch, Chasi Adhikar Sangram Samiti and CSD, Odisha.