Bleaching powder, chemically Calcium Oxychloride (CaOCl₂), is a strong oxidizing agent due to the presence of available chlorine. It acts by releasing nascent oxygen or chlorine, which oxidizes coloured substances or kills microbes. A) Reducing agents cause reduction and are themselves oxidized. Bleaching powder's action is primarily oxidation, not reduction. Therefore, it is used as an oxidizing agent, not a reducing agent. This statement is NOT true. B), C), and D) are correct uses of bleaching powder. It is widely used as a bleaching agent for materials like wood pulp and textiles (linen) and as a disinfectant for water supplies and surfaces.