Odisha Bandh Today LIVE: The NNKS has received support from both the Opposition parties the Congress and the BJP. (Representational photo)Odisha Bandh Today, February 21, 2019 Live News Updates: Farmers’ outfit Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) has called for a 12-hour bandh in Odisha seeking a higher minimum support price (MSP) on paddy and other produce and pension for the farmers amongst other demands. They have received support from both the Congress and BJP.
Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik had announced his party’s support to the outfit’s bandh call on Tuesday, saying the farmers are their top priority. The BJP, too, has extended support to NNKS’s bandh, saying the state government has always throttled the farmers’ voice. “The farmers have rights to express their opinion and protest in a democracy. The state government has time and again tried to throttle their voice. We will protest the anti-farmer policies of the state government,” state unit president Basant Panda was quoted by PTI.
NNKS convenor Akshya Kumar told PTI that they were forced to call for the bandh after their demands were rejected by the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government. The state government had appealed to the outfit to refrain from organising the bandh on February 21 in view of the annual high school examination.
CPI(M) too supports bandh, calls BJD govt 'anti-farmer'
Meanwhile, the CPI (M) supported the bandh call and termed the state’s BJD government as “anti-farmer.” The police have recovered banners at Baliguda in Kandhamal district where the party had appealed to the people to support the bandh.
Opposition parties do not have any other issue to raise: Odisha finance minister
Odisha’s Finance minister S B Behera, who also heads a ministerial panel to deal with agitating farmers, said: “The opposition parties don't have any other issue to raise. Odisha government is trying to fulfil the demands of the farmers and the bandh call given by NNKS will cause inconvenience for the students appearing in the matriculation exam.” (PTI)
Odisha govt appeals to call off bandh due to examinations, NNKS rejects plea
The state government in an appeal to the agitating farmers' body had requested it to refrain from the bandh in view of the annual high school certification examination. As question and answer sheets will be transported to different places on February 21, the bandh may affect the examination process, the government said requesting the NNKS to refrain from its bandh in the interest of six lakh students who will appear in the examination.
NNKS convenor Akshya Kumar said that the outfit has rejected the state government’s appeal. He added that they are sensitive towards the examination and therefore vehicles carrying examination-related materials will not be detained. Kumar said, “As such our bandh will be observed during the day time and they can transport the examination materials after 6 pm.” (PTI)
'Forced' to call for bandh after state govt ignored our demands: NNKS convernor Akshya Kumar
The Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) said it was “forced” to call for Odisha bandh after the state government ignored their “genuine” demands like price, pension and prestige for farmers. They have been demanding proper minimum support price (MSP) on paddy and other agricultural produces. “We have given a 12-hour bandh call on Thursday. The government’s plea is aimed to foil our agitation. The NNKS is sensitive towards the examination and therefore vehicles carrying examination-related materials will not be detained,” NNKS convenor Akshya Kumar told PTI.