Odisha Bandh Called on October 8 Over MMDR Act, SIR

The INDIA bloc has announced an Odisha-wide bandh on October 8, protesting the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026, alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, and errors in school textbooks.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das made the announcement during a demonstration near Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s residence in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. He said the bandh would be conducted peacefully.
The protest was initially planned as an Assembly gherao, but the programme was changed after the monsoon session ended on Monday. Leaders and workers of CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, Forward Bloc, NCP, Samajwadi Party and RJD participated in the demonstration.

The situation became tense when protesters attempted to march towards the Chief Minister’s residence and were stopped by police, leading to clashes with security personnel.
Das also announced a separate protest in mineral-rich Keonjhar district on October 7 against the amended mining law. He claimed the new MMDR provisions could cause Odisha significant financial losses and said rallies and economic blockades would be organised in major mining areas on October 8.
CPI(M) state secretary Suresh Chandra Panigrahy said the alliance is demanding repeal of the amended MMDR Act, protection of Odisha’s mineral rights and financial interests, and greater safeguards for the state’s mineral resources.