Bhubanewar: Different outfits in Odisha will support the ‘Bharat Bandh’ called Friday by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a farmers’ body comprising over 40 unions.
They have demanded a complete repeal of the newly-enacted three farm laws and minimum support prices (MSP) for their produces. The bandh will be from 6.00am to 6.00pm.
“We will support the bandh across Odisha. We have planned demonstrations and chakka jam in some areas like Hanspal on National Highway 16 to register our protests against the three controversial laws,” said Akshay Kumar, Convener of the Naba Kishore Kisan Sangthan (NNKS).
He informed other farmers’ outfits have also extended their support to the bandh. Several political parties in Odisha also voiced their support for the farmers’ protests.
The bandh is being observed to mark the 400th day of farmers’ protests at the Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders in Delhi. The Congress, CPIM, CPI and the Samajwadi Party have backed the agitation planned Friday.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik said that instructions have been sent to the districts to ensure success of the bandh. Even though the ruling BJD in Odisha have not directly voiced their support for the bandh, it has taken special measures to counter it.
The Odisha government has issued special instructions to postpone exams besides asking the officials of the secretariat to reach office as quickly as possible. The government also warned that vehicular and railway movement may be affected.
Late Thursday evening it announced that all educational institutions will remain closed. Utkal University has postponed its plus-3 examinations owing to the bandh and shifted it to March 30.
PNN