Odisha Bandh on January 28 over farmers’ issues, PUCC fines
Bhubaneswar(By Abhishek Mohanty): The Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) has called for an eight-hour statewide bandh in Odisha on Wednesday, January 28, from 6 am to 2 pm, to protest alleged irregularities in paddy procurement, high penalties under the Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) system, and what it termed arbitrary electricity tariff decisions by Tata Power.
The farmers’ organisation said the shutdown aims to draw attention to the difficulties faced by farmers and the general public due to administrative failures and rising costs.
Normal life across several parts of the state is expected to be disrupted during the bandh, although emergency services will remain operational.
Announcing the protest, NNKS National Coordinator Akshay Kumar alleged that farmers were assaulted during a recent agitation, even in the presence of the Deputy Chief Minister. He also criticised issues related to mandis, the PUCC system, and the installation of smart meters.
The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has extended support to the bandh.
OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das said district Congress committees have been directed to support the shutdown and participate peacefully in the protest.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised the bandh call, describing it as a “fake farmers’ movement.”
BJP spokesperson Manoj Mahapatra alleged that the Navnirman Krushak Sangathan lacks grassroots support and claimed the Congress is backing the protest due to its inability to mobilise people independently
