Odisha Bandh by Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan fails to draw farmers: Minister
Bhubaneswar(By Abhishek Mohanty): The Odisha Bandh called by the Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan to protest paddy procurement issues, electricity tariffs, and pollution certificates saw little participation from farmers on Wednesday. This was informed by Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra.
The Minister labeled the bandh a “super flop,” claiming, “No farmers came out anywhere” and asserting that real farmers were not part of the movement.
Patra noted that 37.91 lakh metric tons of paddy have already been procured and over Rs 8,000 crore credited to farmers’ accounts.
However, Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena informed that more than 50 protestors were taken into police custody during the bandh.
The eight-hour (6 AM to 2 PM) protest highlights public grievances over paddy procurement irregularities, pollution control certificates, and the imposition of smart meters.
In Bhubaneswar, members of the Sangathan blocked roads near Uttara Chhaka by burning tires. Bus movement at the Barmunda Bus Stand has been halted.
In Binika (Sonepur district), supporters staged picketing along the Binika-Barpali National Highway and protested at College Chhaka.
In Balangir, protestors locked the main post office and stopped vehicular traffic in the city through picketing. In Brahmapur, while educational institutions remained open, petrol pumps were closed. Traffic along the Cuttack-Puri road was also affected due to the bandh.
