By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 26, 2020: Normal life was affected partially in several parts of Odisha on Thursday due to the Bharat Bandh called by many trade unions in protest against the new farm and labour laws.

Vehicular movement came to a halt as trade union activists staged road blockade in different places including state capital Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Khurda, Rayagada and Paradip to enforce the day-long strike that began at 6 am.

In the state capital here, the agitators held road blockade in some places preventing movement of vehicles, while many protesters staged picketing near the regional office of the Reserve Bank of India and other central government establishments.

The joint platform of Central Trade Unions (CTUs) comprising of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) and United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) joined the Protest.

The protesters holding placards and banners took out rallies and held picketing and demonstrations in different areas of the state asking the shopkeepers and business establishments to down their shutters during the strike.

Buses, trucks and other vehicles were stranded on highways and other roads in different places as the strike supporters staged demonstrations and road blockade.

Shouting slogans against the Centre’s economic policies, they demanded total withdrawal of “anti-farmer” and “anti-worker” laws and measures and privatisation of public sector units.

The agitators also demanded a halt to measures towards corporatisation of government-run manufacturing units as well as and service entities like railways, ordnance factories and ports.

The strike remained peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the state, a senior police officer said.

The Odisha unit of Congress extended support to the strike. “We are supporting the strike wholeheartedly and staging protests against the central government’s anti-farmer and anti-labour laws. Its economic policies are aimed at benefiting a handful of corporate houses,” state Congress president Niranjan Patnaik said.