Farmers’ Body Odisha Bandh On Feb 21 Despite Caution

Bhubaneswar: The Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan on Wednesday said it will observe an Odisha Bandh to press for farmers’ demands on February 21, despite an appeal from the state government against holding it a day ahead of the high school exams.

“We will not back out of our decision to observe Odisha bandh on February 21 despite the state government warning,” Sangathan national convener Akshaya Kumar told journalists here. “It has been decided that all essential and emergency services will run as usual during the bandh.”

The home department had, in a notification on February 18, asked the Sangathan to desist from the bandh as it would affect students who will appear for their annual high school certificate examinations beginning February 22.

Akshaya said the bandh will not pose a problem for the students. “The School and Mass Education secretary has said that question papers from the nodal centres will be dispatched to the examination centres on the morning of February 22,” Akshaya said. “Sangathan members have been asked to take necessary steps to ensure not a single student faces any difficulty in appearing for the examination.”

The home department notification had said the state government would be compelled to take necessary measures to ensure smooth conduct of exams if the Sangathan persists with its bandh programme.

“Action will be taken as per provisions of the law,” the notification had said. “It is hoped that the organisers realise that their action could cause inconvenience to the public, especially the students’ community, and withdraw their bandh call in the larger public interest.”

The BJP Krushak Morcha on Wednesday said it will support the Sangathan’s Odisha bandh call as the state government has been torturing farmers mentally.

“On the pretext of HSC exams, the state government has threatened the Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan,” Morcha general secretary Surath Biswal said. “It is the responsibility of the state government to conduct HSC exams. After all, the farmers are not terrorists. They will exercise restraint and will never cross the line of control.”

The Congress, too, announced support for the Odisha bandh.