Koraput: Normal life was severely hit Tuesday by the 12-hour bandh called by the Congress in Koraput district. The grand old party called for the bandh due to the negligent attitude of state and Union governments towards the district. The bandh call was given by the district Congress unit president, Minakshi Bahinipati. The strike was supported by the Koraput Traders Association, various bus and truck owners associations, and the district unit of CPI, Jeypore MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati said.
Officials said that protesters were seen picketing and staging roadblocks at the main traffic intersection of this town, the Ambaguda and Gandhi Square on National Highway-26 which passes through Jeypore town. All private and government offices, business establishments, and educational institutions remained closed. Vehicular movement came to a grinding halt with hundreds of vehicles left stranded on the road.
However, emergency services were kept out of the bandh purview while students were allowed to attend their examination centres. The Congress observed the bandh demanding the establishment of a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Jeypore and job opportunities for educated youths of Koraput district. The party also demanded the appointment of CT, BEd, and DIET-trained students on a priority basis as teachers in Korpaut district, filling up vacant posts of teachers in Koraput B.Ed College and establishing of a Central Driving Training School. Congress also demanded jobs for trained ANM and B.Sc nursing candidates. Party leaders said that demands were brought to the notice of both the Odisha government and the Centre in the past, but to no avail. Congress leaders said that the bandh was successful in Koraput town, Semiliguda, and Sunabeda.
Among others, Koraput Municipality chairman Narendra Mohanty, youth Congress president in the district Sukant Pattnaik, CPI cadres, and members of various associations participated in the strike.
