Demanding implementation of the Prohibition Act-1956, the Milita Odisha Nisha Nibaran Abhiyan organised a big rally here on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on Wednesday.
The event witnessed congregation of around 3,000 people, especially women, from various parts of the State. Three processions beginning from the Raj Mahal Square, Ram Mandir and railway station culminated at the lower PMG. The participants held posters and banners and shouted slogans demanding that Odisha be made a narcotics-free State.
The Abhijan is an austere endeavour of a few Gandhians including Padma Charan Nayak and Padmashree Tulsi Munda. It views that the sole cause of all evils happening in the society is the intake of narcotics. Narcotics are even used as a tool to woo voters in elections. The Abhijan called upon politicians who respect Gandhiji also to respect Gandhism both in word and practice. Several social activists, intellectuals and victims of various narcotics spoke on the occasion. Among others, Khrushna Jagdev, Ramakanta Mandal, Abasar Beuria and Malay Tripathy attended the rally.