People's Democracy

Odisha Jatha

Ali Kishor Patnaik

The Odisha sub jatha that is going to merge with the Eastern Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha was flagged off from Parlakhemundi on February 24. This is district headquarters of one of the tribal dominated districts of Odisha. The jatha is led by CPI(M) Odisha state secretary Janardhan Pati and included state secretariat members Ali Kishor Patnaik and Jaganath Misra. At the time of writing this, the jatha completed its third day when it reached Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha.

During these three days, the jatha has covered a distance of about 350
km, covering three districts of Gajapati, Ganjam and Khurdha. On the third day, the jatha began from Berhampur of Ganjam district on its way to Bhubaneswar. There were large number of people at Chotabasa, Poirasi, Khandadeuli,Santoshpur, Humma and Rambha who greeted the jatha. Reception processions were organised all through in which a good chunk of rural women joined.

Adressing the people in the public meetings, Janardan Pati highlighted the alternative policies on food, land, employment issues being highlighted by the CPI(M). On its way to Bhubaneswar, the jatha was greeted by Party workers and sympathisers at Tangi and Khurdha town. In these two places, meetings were also held.

The scene of reception at Bhubaneswar was quite enthusiastic. Hundreds of people, including adivasis with traditional drums from suburban areas of Bhubaneswar, students, youth, employees etc greeted the jatha leaders. A good number of them were women. A well attended public meeting was held at Jayadev Vihar square of Bhubaneswar under the presidentship of Bhubaneswar district secretary Suresh Panigrhi.

The meeting was addressed by Party leaders Janardhan Pati, Ali Kishor Patnaik, Jaganath Misro and  Dusmant Das. Here also the speakers dealt on the issues of food, land, employment issues of the people and the rampant issues of corruption in the country and the state. A district level jatha from adjacent Puri district under the leadership of Puri district secretary of the Party, Bhima Swain joined the state level jatha at Bhubaneswar.