Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has announced its support to the call for Odisha Bandh on January 28 by Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS).
The bandh primarily protests the alleged poor handling and irregularities in paddy procurement in the state, “loot” via Electricity Smart Meters and steep penalties levied on vehicle owners under pollution certificate enforcement. The NKS has called for the immediate disbursement of the Rs 800 per quintal subsidy to farmers and the removal of middlemen and millers from the mandi system.
The state Congress president, Bhakta Charan Das, emphasised that the issues highlighted by NKS are closely tied to
the welfare of the general public. The OPCC has resolved to provide complete support for the bandh and has directed all its district-level units to actively participate and mobilise in favour of the call, he added.
The Congress has also been actively campaigning statewide against the alleged discontinuation or dilution of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), arguing that it has severely harmed rural employment and incomes.
The bandh is likely to disrupt normal life across Odisha. Protesters are expected to block roads at major intersections, potentially hindering vehicle movement in various regions. There may also be rail roko demonstrations at train stations, which could temporarily halt or delay railway operations.
While essential services such as hospitals, ambulances, and pharmacies are typically exempted in such calls, commuters and businesses are advised to plan accordingly. Security arrangements are expected to be heightened in major cities like Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to prevent any untoward incidents.