Bhubaneswar: Despite persuasion by the state government officials, the Nabnirman Krushak Sanghatan (NKS) has decided to go ahead with its proposed Odisha bandh Thursday even as the police are geared up to prevent any untoward incident.
NKS convenor Akshay Kumar reiterated the outfit’s determination to organise the statewide bandh. The activists would continue with their proposed bandh Thursday, he told reporters.
“We are aware of the state government’s threat to take coercive action against us if we organise the bandh. We will not withdraw our stir,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, NKS activists have offered to cooperate with the students taking Class X examinations beginning February 22 and exempt vehicles of emergency usage from the bandh purview.
The NKS convener, however, indicated that no vehicle will be allowed to move on the roads during the bandh between 6 am and 6pm.
The agitation has been spearheaded to press for farmers’ rights focusing on their prestige, price and pension, he said. Talking about the farmer-specific schemes, Kumar said the KALIA scheme or the PM-KISAN is relief-oriented but the schemes should make the farmers self-reliant.
The BJD, meanwhile, expressed apprehensions about the smooth conduct of the matriculation examinations. BJD spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Pratap Keshari Deb said, “The strike will certainly affect the HSC examination. This is a politically motivated stir. Why aren’t they protesting against the state? They can protest against the Centre’s farm policies as well.”
The state police, meanwhile, are geared up to tackle the bandh in view of the concerns expressed by many parents of Class X examinees. DGP RP Sharma told reporters the police are taking steps to prevent any adverse situation that may affect the students coming from rural areas due to road obstructions during the bandh.
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