“Voice Against Hate” protests against atrocities on minorities

Bhubaneswar: ‘Voice Against Hate’ a social organization led by Shri Manas Chowdhury protested at Master Canteen Square on Friday protested against the systematic atrocities on minorities in Odisha. The protesters wore black bands on their faces, held flags with writing of “Voice Against Hate” in their hands and also held placards with writing of ‘We are all brothers there is no place for hatred and violence’, ‘Not hatred, keep the brotherhood ’, ‘Let’s build a hate-free society’, ‘Don’t divide us’, ‘We are one, we are Indians’, ‘Stop hatred, unite the country’ etc. The protest demanded protection for the oppressed minorities and justice for the barbaric atrocities committed against them. The victims of Gajapati district , Aupada, Remuna and Soro in Balasore district and Jajpur district had participated in the protest. In particular, on December 16, 2024, Sudipta Palata of Christian community belong to Serang police station area of Gajapati district was attacked by the saffron party supporters . The case number of the incident is 104/2024. Similarly, on November 24, 2024, Sunaram Marandi and Kayam Soren, to Christian tribals of Aupada police station in Balasore district, were tied to a petrol tank and beaten inhumanly. There was also a plan to kill them by pouring petrol on them, whose case number is 6/2025. On December 26, 2024, close associates of Balasore MP Pratap Sadangi, after falsely accusing tribal Christian women Sukanti Singh and Subashini Singh of conversation , tied them to a tree, beat them with slippers and beat them with sticks. Similarly, on December 8, 2024, inhuman torture was inflicted on Christian community members Narendra Das and Birkishore Das of Jajpur Town police station area and the church of the area was vandalized, whose case number is 355/2024.

Similarly, on January 5, 2025, Gaurang Das of the Christian community of Soro police station area of Balasore district was kidnapped, tied to a tree and was severely beaten. The case number of the incident is 8/2025. These victims participated in this protest. On the other hand, there were attacks on Christian tribals in Mayurbhanj, Christian people at K. Singhpur police station in Rayagada, whose case number is 135/24. Christian community people in Nandankanan police station area of Bhubaneswar and on Christian community members in Balianta area on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. There are many such examples.

In this context, the convenor of the organization, Shri Choudhury, said that the minority community in Odisha is insecure and oppressed. They are afraid of going out of their homes. The government is giving protection to the attackers who belong to the saffron party . It is as if a hidden policy has been prepared to attack them. In the land of Jagannath, all religions and all castes are respected. Here, Salabega wrote bhajans of lord Jagannath and Christian Madhubabu is a great devotee of Jagannath. On the other hand, the basic mantra of Sanatan Dharma is 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. Some self-proclaimed promoters of Hindu religion which accepts the entire world as its family, are carrying out a systematic attack on minorities. They are fake Hindus. Because they do not follow the principles and rules of Hinduism. On the other hand, they are against the Constitution of India. Our Constitution has given equal rights to people of all religions to lead a life. Therefore, this vested interest group is anti-constitutional and anti-national. The role of the BJP government in Odisha is questionable. Because this BJP government seems to be protecting the criminals who are abusing the minorities.

The most important issue is that the Chief Minister of Odisha is a tribal and the President of India is also a tribal. In such a situation, they were blind to the barbaric attack on tribal women by the henchmen of Mr. Patap Sarangi , MP Balasore . The organization will continue its program until the minorities are protected and justice is given to the oppressed. This program was supported by the NSUI, Odisha and Pradesh Youth Congress. National Secretary of Indian Youth Congress and Odisha In-charge Shri Alit Singh participated in this program. Youth leader Amiya Pandav, Yasir Nawaz, Bishwajit Das, Dr. Prallab Nima, Prakash Mishra, Ganesh Dash, Manoj Bishul, Mir Ahmed Ali, Ajay Sahu, Rahul Mohanty, Bishop D.B. Haraj, Sudeep Samal, Shreyasmita Panda, Mohammed Parvez, Shishir Rath, Raje Swain, Kalandi Khuntia were prominent participants in this protest.