Rajendra Prasad Mohapatra

The members of Kalahandi District Tribal Association (KDTA) on Wednesday launched a seven-hour Kalahandi bandh protesting against the withdrawal of reservation in the upcoming three-tier Panchayat elections in the State.

The bandh started at 7 am and will continue till 2 pm.

As per reports, most of the government and private offices, educational institutions, local shops and commercial establishments are closed during the bandh. Besides, vehicular movement along the road has also been affected. However, all essential services including medical and health services, media, and examinees were exempted from the purview of the bandh.

Notably, members of OBC forum in Kalahandi had observed a 12-hour bandh in the district on October 25 last year alleging violation of constitutional rights of backward classes by the State government.

The forum has demanded 27 per cent reservation for the backward classes in the upcoming Panchayat elections in the State.

Earlier on October 18, members of the Zilla OBC Manch in Nuapada district had observed a dawn to dusk bandh alleging that the State Government has slashed the reservation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the upcoming Panchayat Elections from 27% to 2.8%.
 

(Edited by Ramakant Biswas)

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