Normal life across the State was partially hit as farmers, political parties and trade unions joined the Bharat Bandh opposing the Central Government’s three agriculture laws.
Besides, the Congress, seven other non-BJP and non-BJD parties joined the protest leading to roads remaining deserted with the agitators blocking highways and major roads. Train services were also affected as activists staged sit-ins on railway tracks in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Bhadrak, Baleswar and other places.
However, the bandh was more or less peaceful even as the protestors burnt tyres on roads, police said, adding that adequate security arrangements were made across the State.
The Government offices remained closed.
Around 500 protesters courted arrest and were held in preventive detention in different places, including about 200 in Bhubaneswar, police sources said.
Opposition parties claimed that the bandh as a complete success. CPI State Secretary Asish Kanungo said the shutdown evoked spontaneous response from all sections of the people.
The bandh impact was felt in Bhubaneswar as movement of vehicles was disrupted. The protestors also staged demonstrations on railway track.
The bandh also had its impact on the bus passengers as a large number of them were stranded at the Baramunda bus terminus in Bhubaneswar, Badambadi bus terminal in Cuttack and other major cities.
Activists of the Navnirman Krushak Sanghathan staged demonstrations in Jagatsinghpur district and Hansapal near Bhubaneswar.
However, the essential services were kept out of the purview of the shutdown.
CPI(M) leader Ali Kishore Patnaik dubbed the NDA Government at the Centre as “anti-farmer". CPI leader Narayan Reddy said the Centre should immediately repeal the new legislations after this bandh.
However, BJP State president Samir Mohanty hit out at the protestors accusing them of misleading farmers and creating hurdles in the development of the farming community.
Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik said both BJP and BJD are working against the interest of farmers.
The BJD claimed that it has all along been working for the welfare and empowerment of farmers. “Our stand is very clear. We are with the farmers,” Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera said. The BJD has been demanding to double the rate of paddy MSP as suggested by the Swaminathan Committee.
However, BJD did not directly join the bandh even as the State Government closed its offices due to the strike.