Religious: Some activists and educators have appealed to the voters and rural candidates in Ganjam Regency to refrain from violence during the three Panchayat selection and choose representatives without reinforcing democracy at the grassroots level.
Appeal considered the significance as a pre-polling violence reported from various places in the district, including Dharakote, broken, Patrapur and Chikiti.
The police have arrested at least 20 people because of their alleged involvement in violence.
Heating placards, they sat near the Statue of Gandhi at Gandhi Nagar here on Monday afternoon to attract people and political parties to refrain from violence.
They also appealed to voters to stay away from chisels and liquor, which flowed freely during the election.
“Violence will destroy social fabrics and damage poor families,” said Sudhir Rout, Forum, Forum for Ganjam, a social organization.
“Without bias, we begged people to judge and choose honest and efficient representatives to the Raj Pancayati institution to build a healthier democracy at the grassroots level,” said Shyam Sundar Kharanga, a retired teacher.
“We plan to go to some Panchayats in the district to appeal on this problem,” Rout said.
“Don’t let parties or political or individual organizations buy your conscience,” said Et Rao, an activist.
Calls to avoid violence, persuasion in rural polls
