Bhadrak, July 3, 2025: The Joint Central Trade Union, Farmers’ Organization, and Independent People’s Organizations held a public meeting at Bonth Bazaar to mobilize support for a nationwide general strike on July 9, protesting the central government’s anti-farmer and anti-worker policies, rising inflation, deteriorating law and order, and increasing incidents of violence against women, minorities, and Dalits. The event, organized by the Joint Workers’ Coordination Committee, began with a procession from Bonth Thana Square, where participants raised slogans demanding the withdrawal of anti-worker policies while marching through the market.
The roadside public meeting, held near the hospital gate, was chaired by AITUC District Secretary Ramesh Jena. Speakers included CITU District President and lawyer Divyasingh Nayak, CITU Secretary Kalandi Patra, AICCTU District President Samar Bal, AIUTUC District Secretary Ram Chandra Shankhua, farmers’ organization leaders Babaji Charan Jena, Prabhas Chandra Mahapatra, Niranjan Nayak, and Khet Mazdoor Union State Vice-President and lawyer Prfull Padhi. Tilo Sarpanch Sangram Keshari Jena, Pratap Sethi, AITUC’s Dilip Nayak, and Arvind Bishwal also addressed the gathering.
The leaders condemned the central government’s policies, unemployment, price hikes, and rising cases of violence against women and sexual assault. They specifically denounced the brutal attacks on Dalits in Dharakote, Ganjam district, under the guise of cow protection. The speakers urged the public to support the July 9 strike by shutting down government offices, educational institutions, and businesses to make the protest a success.
Attendees included Subash Chandra Behera, Bhaskar Behera, farmer leader Kishor Behera, Bishnu Charan Jena, Dulla Khan, Panchanan Sethi, Sanjay Samal, Ravindra Sethi, Parshuram Swain, Pabitra Sethi, Kamalakantha Jena, Krishna Chandra Jena, Abhimanyu Jena, Jayant Sahu, and others, who joined in solidarity to amplify the call for change.
