Bhubaneswar, October 8: Lawyers in Bhubaneswar on Thursday extended their support to the Odisha bandh called by the Congress-led INDIA bloc, staging a peaceful demonstration outside the Bhubaneswar court to press for a series of demands, including the repeal of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment Act, 2026, and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Advocates associated with the Bhubaneswar Bar Association and the Congress Lawyers’ Cell participated in the day-long demonstration. The protest was led by senior advocate and former Bhubaneswar Bar Association President Ziaul Haq, Former President of the Bhubaneswar Bar Association, Ashok Patra, Senior advocate Sibananda Ray, Santosh Chowdhury, Atma Prakash Mohanty, Manoj Nayak, Manas Acharya, Sanjib Pujapanda, Sribastcha Mohanty, and Laxmidhar Padhi.

Addressing the gathering, Haq said the lawyers had joined the bandh in solidarity with the INDIA bloc and supported its demands concerning the MMDR Amendment Act and the functioning of the Election Commission.

Haq also demanded the resignation of Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over what he alleged were large-scale errors and discrepancies in school textbooks. Haq said the government should take responsibility for the issue and ensure accountability.

On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue, Ashok Patra said the demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging serious irregularities in the process and questioning the functioning of the Election Commission.

The protesters said the government should take the demands raised by the opposition and various sections of society seriously and initiate appropriate action.

Haq warned that if the demands were not fulfilled, the agitation would be intensified and continue until the issues were addressed.

The lawyers’ demonstration remained peaceful, with the protesters raising slogans in support of their demands and the Odisha bandh.

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