Kotpad:Jan 30: The Navnirman Krushak Sangathan had called for an eight-hour Odisha statewide bandh. Its impact was clearly visible in Kotpad as well. From 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM, normal life in the Kotpad area was severely affected.
To intensify the bandh, members of the BJD and Congress also extended their support and participated. Due to the shutdown, business establishments, schools, government and private offices remained completely closed. However, all emergency services were kept out of the purview of the bandh.
Hundreds of vehicles were seen stranded at both entry points of the town, causing significant inconvenience to passengers trying to reach their respective destinations. Many commuters expressed strong resentment over the situation.
According to the protesters, the present government is conspiratorial in nature and is allegedly squeezing the public by illegally collecting fines. They accused the government of going back on its promises, exploiting farmers and electricity consumers, and favoring big corporate houses like Ambani and Adani, thereby plundering the state.
The agitators warned that if the government does not address their three-point charter of demands, the movement will intensify further in the coming days.
During today’s bandh in Kotpad, Krushak Sangathan President Sanjay Behera, BJD leader Chandra Sekhar Majhi, Arif Patel, Congress leader Anamu Dian, Kotpad NAC Chairman M. Shankar Rao, Manohar Bisoi, along with several other leaders and workers from Congress and BJD, were present.