Dikhyaa Mohanty 
On the grounds that it would cause traffic congestion during the ongoing Matric exams, the Commissionerate Police has denied permission to the protesting Odisha Primary Teachers’ Association to hold a dharna at the Lower PMG in the capital city on Wednesday. The Commissionerate Police said in a letter to the United Primary Teachers’ Federation that “Any form of dharna and strike will only worsen the traffic congestion in the Capital City since the Matric examination is now taking place in the State. Hence, authorization for the strike is not given.
On March 15 at 12.30 pm, the Union Primary Teachers Federation had requested permission to hold a dharna at Lower PMG in support of their demands. The Zone-I ACP and the IIC of the Capital police station, however, do not advocate for this.
“On November 27, 2022, your organization had received approval from this office for the gathering of 2,500 teachers to take part in a dharna at Lower PMG. The letter sent by the Commissionerate Police to the teachers’ body said that the teachers’ turnout was above 40,000, which created traffic congestion, discomfort to travelers and the general public in the vicinity of the Master Canteen and the railroad station, and blocking of all the roadways.
The federation has described the licence denial as “unfortunate” in the meantime. The federation’s steering committee will meet on Wednesday to determine whether or not to call the strike.
